2624

February 24. Lyons. Pope Innocent IV writes to all the barons, knights, nobles, crusaders and all Christians in Outremer about the crusading (in exercitu […] crucesignatorum) project of King [Louis IX] of France. The pope recalls the difficulties encountered by the Christians to liberate the Holy Land, which represents ‘a stairway to the heavenly kingdom’. Today, the project may succeed with the help of God and the involvement of the king of France, who has taken the cross and combines many physical and moral virtues. The pope also conferred on the [cardinal-]bishop of Tusculum (Frascati) [Eudes de Châteauroux] the sign of the cross and the office of papal legate just as Jethro [blessed Moses before his departure from Madian]. The authority of the legate extends to the army of the crusaders and all the provinces and Christian lands in Outremer, with the power to root up, destroy, pull down, waste, build up and plant (Jeremiah 1:10). Thus the pope orders the addressees to treat the legate honourably and to execute his orders obediently. Otherwise, the pope will respect and enforce the sentences that the legate promulgates against rebels.