Background
Bernardo da Pisa was born in Pisa in Italy. He is commonly identified as Bernardo Pignatelli, a member of the family of Paganelli di Montemagno, but this has not been proved.
Bernardo da Pisa was born in Pisa in Italy. He is commonly identified as Bernardo Pignatelli, a member of the family of Paganelli di Montemagno, but this has not been proved.
He had a successful ecclesiastical career behind him when in 1130 he met St. Bernard of Clairvaux at the Council of Pisa. Pignatelli followed the saint to Clairvaux and became a monk. Sometime between May 1134 and February 1137 he was ordained to the priesthood by Pope Innocent II. Some chronicles state that he was also raised to the College of Cardinals, but it has not been proved in any document. After completing his monastic formation he returned to Italy as a reformer of monasteries and was elected pope in 1145 in succession to Pope Lucius II, who was killed by a Roman mob. Eugene proclaimed the Second Crusade after hearing of the fall of Edessa in 1144. Since his position in Rome was generally insecure, Eugene spent most of his pontificate (1145 - 1153) in traveling through France, Germany, and Italy, but he finally succeeded in restoring the temporal power. Although he had received the abjuration of Arnold of Brescia in 1145, Eugene was obliged to excommunicate him again in 1148, when the violent reformer advocated not only the abolition of the temporal power of the papacy but also the subordination of the spiritual to the civil power. It was for Eugene III that St. Bernard wrote his famous treatise De consideratione, which combines ascetical and mystical principles with shrewd reflections on ecclesiastical and secular politics. Eugene III died at Tivoli, July 8, 1153. He was buried in the Vatican with deep respect. His tomb soon became fame for miraculous cures.
Cistercian Order
Citizens of Rome were always ready to recognize him as their spiritual lord, they deeply reverenced his personal character. He was naturally soft and kind, but was able to combine it with necessary hardness. Even his political opponents recognized his genuine piety.
