Succeeded Urban II , and reigned from 13 Aug., 1099, till he died at Rome , 21 Jan., 1118. Born in central Italy , he was received at an early age as a monk in Cluny. In his twentieth year he was sent on business of the monastery to Rome , and was retained at the papal court by Gregory VII , and made Cardinal-Priest of St. Clement's church. It was in this church that the conclave met after the death of Pope Urban , and Cardinal Rainerius was the unanimous choice of the sacred college. He protested vigorously against his election, maintaining, with some justice , that his monastic training had not fitted him to deal with the weighty problems which confronted the papacy in that troublous age. His protestations were disregarded by his colleagues, and he was consecrated the following day in St. Peter's . Once pope , he betrayed no further hesitation and wielded the sceptre with a firm and prudent grasp. The main lines of his policy had been laid by the master minds of Greg...