3064

April 9. Naples. Pope Alexander IV to Bishop-elect (sic) Jacobus [Jacques Pantaléon] of Jerusalem, relating that when the church of Jerusalem was vacant, three canons of that church on their own accord set a very brief deadline for the others for the election or appointment of the future patriarch, although the advice and consent of those others should have been obtained for arranging the deadline. The others considered themselves unduly burdened by the brevity of the deadline and appealed to Cardinal-bishop [Eudes de Châteauroux] of Tusculum (Tusculanus), then papal legate in those parts. The legate cited the three by letter to appear before him before a deadline, strictly forbidding them from proceeding to the election or appointment in the meantime. The three disregarded the appeal and citation and appointed Patriarch O[pizo Fieschi] of Antioch to their church, presented the appointment to the pope, and asked the pope to accept it. After deliberating with the cardinals, the pope has not accepted the appointment. Lest such a church, so important for its connection to the Son of the eternal Father, remain without a prelate for a very long time, the pope has made the addressee, bishop of Verdun (Virdunensis), patriarch, transferring him from the church of Verdun (Virdunensis). The pope writes the usual letters on the same matter to the patriarch's suffragans, to the chapter of Jerusalem, to the clergy of Jerusalem, and to the people of the city and diocese of Jerusalem.