Honorius IV
Giacomo Savelli · 1285 – 1287
Continued Charles of Anjou's policies in Sicily, supported the mendicant orders, and governed Rome effectively despite severe arthritis.
Giacomo was a Roman nobleman, grandnephew of Honorius III. He was so crippled by arthritis that he could not stand unaided or raise the Host at Mass without mechanical assistance. Despite this, he governed capably from 1285 to 1287. He supported the Franciscan and Dominican orders, promoted the study of Eastern languages at the University of Paris to aid missionary work, and managed the aftermath of the Sicilian Vespers uprising. He died in 1287.
Governing Through Pain
Honorius IV could barely move. His hands were so twisted by arthritis that assistants had to help him celebrate Mass. But his mind was sharp and his administration was competent. He proved that physical limitation does not disqualify a person from leadership. He did the work that needed doing, however much it cost him.