Pope Innocent IV

Pope Innocent IV, who reigned from 1243 to 1254, was a significant figure in the Catholic Church during the medieval period. He is best known for his efforts to expand papal authority and his involvement in political matters of his time, including conflicts with powerful monarchs like the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. Innocent IV convened the First Council of Lyon in 1245, where he sought to address issues of church reform and crusades. His papacy marked a notable period of assertiveness for the papacy, emphasizing the need for church leadership in both spiritual and temporal affairs.