# Pope Urban IV

_Head of the Catholic Church from 1261 to 1264 (1185–1264)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/pope-urban-iv
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Pope Urban IV, born James Pantaleon, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 29 August 1261 to his death three years later. He was elected pope without being a cardinal; he was the first to be elected in such a way, and this would occur for only 5 more popes afterwards.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 1185 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q169305#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Troyes ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q169305#P19))
- **Died:** 2 October 1264 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q169305#P570))
- **Place of death:** Perugia ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q169305#P20))
- **Occupation:** diplomat; Latin Catholic priest; Catholic bishop ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q169305#P106))
- **Education:** University of Paris ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q169305#P69))
- **Positions held:** Pope (5 September 1261 – 2 October 1264); Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem (9 April 1255 – 29 August 1261); Roman Catholic Bishop of Verdun (1254–1255); ambassador; patriarch ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q169305#P39))

## Questions

**When was Pope Urban IV born?**  
Pope Urban IV was born on 1185 in Troyes.

**What positions has Pope Urban IV held?**  
Positions held by Pope Urban IV include: Pope (1261–1264); Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem (1255–1261); Roman Catholic Bishop of Verdun (1254–1255); ambassador; patriarch.

**Where did Pope Urban IV study?**  
Pope Urban IV was educated at University of Paris.

## Related

- [Pope Telesphorus](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-telesphorus)
- [Pope Gregory XIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gregory-xiii)
- [Pope Clement VII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-clement-vii)
- [Pope Pius I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-i)
- [Pope Boniface I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-boniface-i)
- [Pope Agapetus I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-agapetus-i)
- [Pope Innocent IX](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-innocent-ix)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pope Urban IV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Urban_IV) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q169305](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q169305) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Taddeo di bartolo, s. tommaso d'aquino presenta la sua liturgia del corpus christi a urbano IV, 1403 ca. (cropped) (cropped).JPG by Sailko (CC BY 3.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Taddeo_di_bartolo,_s._tommaso_d%27aquino_presenta_la_sua_liturgia_del_corpus_christi_a_urbano_IV,_1403_ca._(cropped)_(cropped).JPG)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Urban IV, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Taddeo di bartolo, s. tommaso d'aquino presenta la sua liturgia del corpus christi a urbano IV, 1403 ca. (cropped) (cropped).JPG — Sailko, CC BY 3.0.

## Cite this page

"Pope Urban IV". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-urban-iv. Retrieved 5 November 2026.