Question

Use the following speech excerpt to answer the question below:

"On this account I, or rather the Lord, beseech you as Christ's heralds to publish this everywhere and to persuade all people of whatever rank, foot-soldiers and knights, poor and rich, to carry aid promptly to those Christians and to destroy that vile race from the lands of our friends. I say this to those who are present, it is meant also for those who are absent. Moreover, Christ commands it.

All who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins. This I grant them through the power of God with which I am invested."

The words above were used to persuade Europeans to mount the Crusades. Which of the following individuals spoke these words?

Abraham
Constantine
King Solomon
Pope Urban II

Answer 1

The individual who spoke these words was Pope Urban II.

Answer 2

Pope Urban II

Urban II served as pope from 1088 to 1099. His powerful speech, given in 1095, was rallying Christians in medieval Europe to go and take control of the Holy Land (Palestine) away from the Seljuk Turks. The speech was given at the Council of Claremont, held in France. As many as 100,000 people became part of the First Crusade in response to the pope's call.