Why did Pope Innocent IV flee Rome and call a council at Lyon?
Pope Innocent IV fled Rome in June 1244 because he did not trust Frederick II, despite a previous agreement to resolve their conflicts. Feeling unsafe in the city, the Pope secretly escaped to Genoa and eventually reached Lyon, where he sought the protection of King Louis IX of France.123
In late 1244, Innocent IV convened a general council at Lyon to address three primary issues:
* The ongoing conflict with the Emperor, Frederick II.
* The liberation of the Holy Sepulchre.
* The defense of Christianity against the Mongol advance.31
During the council in 1245, the Pope formally deposed Frederick II on charges of perjury, sacrilege, suspicion of heresy, and disturbing the peace. This action was a pivotal moment in the long-standing struggle between the papacy and the empire, reflecting the Pope's belief in the universal responsibility and authority of the church.312