Editing Pope Sergius II (section)

==Pontificate==
Sergius contributed to urban redevelopment in [[Rome]], improving churches, aqueducts, and the Lateran Basilica.<ref name=Mann/> He and his brother, Benedict, funded their building plans by selling appointments to various church positions to the highest bidder.<ref>[http://www.spirituality.org/is/235/pope_102.asp "The 102nd Pope", ''Spirituality.org'', Diocese of Bridgeport]{{better source needed|date=January 2019}}</ref>

During his pontificate, the outskirts of Rome were ravaged, and the churches of [[Old St. Peter's Basilica|St. Peter]] and [[Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls|St. Paul]] were sacked by Arabs, who also approached [[Portus]] and [[Ostia Antica (archaeological site)|Ostia]] in August 846.<ref name="EB1911"/> During the raid, he and the people of Rome looked on helplessly as they hid behind the [[Aurelian Walls]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=Piers Paul Read|title=The Templars|date=31 Dec 2012|publisher=Hachette UK|isbn=9781780225982|page=iv}}{{better source needed|date=January 2019}}</ref> Despite having been forewarned of the intentions of the raiders, Sergius is seen as having not acted adequately enough to prepare for that which eventuated.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Paul Collins|title=The Birth of the West: Rome, Germany, France, and the Creation of Europe in the Tenth Century|date=4 Mar 2014|publisher=PublicAffairs|isbn=9781610393683|pages=46–7|edition=illustrated, reprint}}</ref>

Sergius died while negotiating between the [[patriarchs of Aquileia]] and [[patriarch of Grado|Grado]].<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sergius-II-pope Sergius II]</ref> He was succeeded by [[Pope Leo IV|Leo IV]].