Pastor Bonus: Some Evidence of Honorius III'S Use of the Sermons of Pope Innocent III*

A rare depiction of Pope Honorius III (1216–1227) in proskinesis, a Byzantine courtly gesture uncommon in Western art, has been identified in the mosaic of Christ’s feet at San Paolo fuori le Mura. This portrayal, likely intentional, raises questions about its symbolic meaning and possible influence from Pope Innocent III’s theological legacy. The study examines the visual and historical context of this mosaic, drawing on prior scholarship by Wilpert and Ladner, to explore whether it reflects deeper theological or political implications for the papacy in the early 13th century.

Powell, J. M., & Peters, E. (2024). Pastor Bonus: Some Evidence of Honorius III’S Use of the Sermons of Pope Innocent III*. The Papacy, Frederick II and Communal Devotion in Medieval Italy, VII–522. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003554813-7