Editing Pope Gregory X (section)

==Papal election==
{{main|Papal election, 1268–1271}}
Visconti was elected to succeed [[Pope Clement IV]] on 1 September 1271 after the papal chair had been vacant for two years and nine months, due to divisions among the cardinals. The [[College of Cardinals]], meeting in Viterbo where Pope Clement IV (1265–1268) had died, was equally divided between the French and Italian cardinals. The French wanted a pope from their own country, influenced by [[Charles of Anjou]], the younger brother of King [[Louis IX of France]], who had been invested with the throne of [[Sicily]] by Pope Clement IV (1265–1268). Charles had also successfully intrigued to have himself elected Senator of Rome, and he repeatedly intervened in the political affairs of the entire Italian peninsula. He had entered Rome on 23 May 1265 where he was made Senator and was proclaimed king of Sicily. On 6 January 1266, he was crowned in St. Peter's Basilica by Cardinals Riccardo Annibaldi, Raoul de Grosparmy, Ancher Pantaleoni, Matteo Orsini, and Goffredo da Alatri, with permission of Pope Clement IV, who did not dare to approach Rome himself due to the hostility of the Ghibelline government toward him.<ref>A. Tomassetti, ''Bullarium Romanum''  III (Turin 1858), pp. 748-763. F. Gregorovius, ''History of Rome in the Middle Ages'', Volume V.2 second edition, revised (London: George Bell, 1906), pp. 381-382.</ref>

The deadlock was not even broken when the citizens of [[Viterbo]] locked up the cardinals in the Episcopal palace where they were meeting, and finally tearing off part of the roof of the building. Finally, in August 1271, the Cardinals decided to appoint a committee, three of their number from each side, to negotiate a settlement (Election by Compromise). When the six could not agree, however, on the choice of one of the cardinals, they decided to look outside their ranks. They settled on Teobaldo Visconti, the Archdeacon of Liège. Their decision was ratified by all of the Cardinals on 1 September 1271.<ref>F. Gregorovius, pp. 457-460. H. D. Sedgwick, ''Italy in the Thirteenth Century'' Volume II (Boston-New York 1912) 71-80. F. Cristofori, ''Il conclave del MCCLXX in Viterbo'' (Roma-Siena-Viterbo 1888) pp. 9-42; 337-348.</ref> This was a victory, in fact, for the French-leaning faction, since Teobaldo had intimate connections with France, and his nephew, [[Vicedomino de Vicedominis|Vicedomino de Vicedomini]], a native of Piacenza but Archbishop of Aix in Provence, had been a follower and advisor of Charles of Anjou ever since he came into Italy.{{fact|date=May 2025}}

The election of Visconti, after a two-year, nine-month struggle, came as a complete surprise to him, since it took place while he was engaged in the [[Ninth Crusade]] at [[Acre, Israel|Acre]] in Palestine with King [[Edward I of England]]. Not wanting to abandon his mission, his first action, upon hearing of his election, was to send out appeals for aid to the Crusaders. At his final sermon at Acre just before setting sail for Italy, he famously remarked, quoting [[Psalm 137]]: "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning."{{fact|date=May 2025}}

Nonetheless, Visconti had to return to Italy immediately, since he had been summoned by the Cardinals in order to accept the election at their hands. On 1 January 1272, the Pope-Elect reached Brindisi. After another month of travel, he arrived in Viterbo, the site of the Election, where the Cardinals were waiting, in early February 1272. On some unknown date over the next few weeks after his arrival, he completed the Election by accepting the Papacy; it was in Viterbo that he assumed the papal mantle. But he was still careful to call himself ''Episcopus-electus''. On 13 March 1272, he entered Rome with the entire Roman Curia. Since he was not in [[Holy Orders]], he had to be ordained a priest, which took place on 19 March 1272. He was consecrated a bishop and finally crowned on 27 March 1272 at St. Peter's Basilica.{{fact|date=May 2025}}