Pope Urban II
![](/Images/godic/202501/30/Urban_II_cropped5043.png")
![A 19th-century stained-glass depiction of Urban receiving St Anselm, exiled from England by William the Red amid the Investiture Controversy.](/Images/godic/202501/30/Quimper_-_Cathédrale_Saint-Corentin_-_PA00090326_-_0405043.jpg")
![Statue of Urban II in Clermont-Ferrand](/Images/godic/202501/30/StatueUrbanII5043.jpg")
![Pope Urban II preaching the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont](/Images/godic/202501/30/B_Urban_II25043.jpg")
Pope Urban II (Latin:Urbanus II; c.1042 – 29 July 1099), born Odo of Châtillon or Otho de Lagery, was pope from 12 March 1088 to his death in 1099. He is best known for initiating the First Crusade (1096–99) and setting up the modern-day Roman Curia in the manner of a royal ecclesiastical court to help run the Church.