Milites Templi
Encyclopedia
Milites Templi is a papal bull
issued by Pope Celestine II
in 1144 that ordered the clergy to protect the Knights Templar
and encouraged the faithful to contribute to their cause. It allowed the Templars to make their own collections once a year, even in areas under interdict
.
This is one of the most important papal bulls relating to the Temple, and together with Omne Datum Optimum
(1139) and Militia Dei
(1145) forms the foundation for the Order's future wealth and success.
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
issued by Pope Celestine II
Pope Celestine II
Pope Celestine II , born Guido di Castello, was pope from 1143 to 1144.-Early life:Guido di Castello, possibly the son of a local noble, Niccolo di Castello, was born either in Città di Castello, situated in Paterna Santa Felicita upon the Apennines, or at Macerata in the March of Ancona.Guido had...
in 1144 that ordered the clergy to protect the Knights Templar
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
and encouraged the faithful to contribute to their cause. It allowed the Templars to make their own collections once a year, even in areas under interdict
Interdict (Roman Catholic Church)
In Roman Catholic canon law, an interdict is an ecclesiastical censure that excludes from certain rites of the Church individuals or groups, who nonetheless do not cease to be members of the Church.-Distinctions in canon law:...
.
This is one of the most important papal bulls relating to the Temple, and together with Omne Datum Optimum
Omne Datum Optimum
Omne Datum Optimum was a Papal Bull issued by Pope Innocent II in 1139 that initially endorsed the Order of the Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , in which the Templar Rule was officially approved, and papal protection given...
(1139) and Militia Dei
Militia Dei
Militia Dei is a Papal bull issued by Pope Eugene III in 1145 that consolidated the Knights Templar's independence of the local clerical hierarchy by giving the Order the right to take tithes and burial fees and to bury their dead in their own cemeteries...
(1145) forms the foundation for the Order's future wealth and success.