Urban II: Speech at Clermont (1095)
This page presents Robert the Monk’s account of Urban II’s speech alongside a clear modern-English reading. You can read the original text, the modern version, or both—side by side on desktop and stacked for easier reading on mobile.
This resource is made available through the Church Leadership Center to support slow reading, deeper reflection, and thoughtful engagement with the Church’s history.
Urban II: Speech at Clermont (1095)
This account of Urban II's speech was written about twenty-five years after Urban's visit to France and does not claim to give more than a general idea of the pope's arguments.
This account of Urban II’s speech was written about twenty-five years after his visit to France. It does not claim to give his exact words, but only the general substance of his argument.
The Setting at Clermont
In the year of our Lord's Incarnation one thousand and ninety-five, a great council was celebrated within the bounds of Gaul, in Auvergne, in the city which is called Clermont. Over this Pope Urban II presided, with the Roman bishops and cardinals. This council was a famous one on account of the concourse of both French and German bishops, and of princes as well. Having arranged the matters relating to the Church, the lord pope went forth into a certain spacious plain, for no building was large enough to hold all the people. The pope then, with sweet and persuasive eloquence, addressed those present in words something like the following.
In the year 1095, a great council was held in Gaul, in Auvergne, in the city called Clermont. Pope Urban II presided over it, together with Roman bishops and cardinals. The council was well known because many French and German bishops were there, along with princes.
After handling the matters related to the Church, the pope went out into a wide open field, because no building was large enough to hold all the people. There, with persuasive and graceful speech, he addressed those present with words something like these.
Urban’s Appeal to the Franks
"Oh, race of Franks, race from across the mountains, race beloved and chosen by God, - as is clear from many of your works,- set apart from all other nations by the situation of your country as well as by your Catholic faith and the honor which you render to the holy Church: to you our discourse is addressed, and for you our exhortations are intended. We wish you to know what a grievous cause has led us to your country, for it is the imminent peril threatening you and all the faithful which has brought us hither.
“O race of Franks, people from across the mountains, people loved and chosen by God—as many of your deeds make clear—set apart from all other nations both by the place of your country and by your Catholic faith and the honor you show to the holy Church: it is to you that our words are addressed, and for you that this appeal is intended.
We want you to know what serious cause has brought us to your land, for it is the great danger threatening you and all the faithful that has led us here.”
The Report from Jerusalem and Constantinople
From the confines of Jerusalem and from the city of Constantinople a grievous report has gone forth and has repeatedly been brought to our ears; namely, that a race from the kingdom of the Persians, an accursed race, a race wholly alienated from God, "a generation that set not their heart aright and whose spirit was not steadfast with God," violently invaded the lands of those Christians and has depopulated them by pillage and fire. They have led away a part of the captives into their own country, and a part have they have killed by cruel tortures. They have either destroyed the churches of God or appropriated them for the rites of their own religion. They destroy the altars, after having defiled them with their uncleanness....The kingdom of the Greeks is now dismembered by them and has been deprived of territory so vast in extent that it could be traversed in two months' time.
“From the region of Jerusalem and from the city of Constantinople a terrible report has gone out and has often reached our ears. It says that a people from the kingdom of the Persians, an accursed people, a people far removed from God, ‘a generation that set not their heart aright and whose spirit was not steadfast with God,’ has violently invaded the lands of those Christians and has laid them waste with plunder and fire.
They have carried some captives away into their own land, and others they have killed with cruel torture. They have either destroyed the churches of God or taken them over for the rites of their own religion. They destroy the altars after defiling them with their uncleanness. The kingdom of the Greeks has now been torn apart by them and deprived of so much territory that it would take two months to cross it.”
A Call to Fight
"On whom, therefore, is the labor of avenging these wrongs and of recovering this territory incumbent, if not upon you, you upon whom, above all other nations, God has conferred remarkable glory in arms, great courage, bodily activity, and strength to humble the heads of those who resist you? Let the deeds of your ancestors encourage you and incite your minds to manly achievements:-the greatness of King Charlemagne, and of his son Louis, and of your other monarchs, who have destroyed the kingdoms of the Turks and have extended the sway of Church over lands previously possessed by the pagan. Let the holy sepulcher of our Lord and Saviour, which is possessed by unclean nations, especially arouse you, and the holy places which are now treated with ignominy and irreverently polluted with the filth of the unclean. Oh, most valiant soldiers and descendants of invincible ancestors, do not degenerate from your progenitors, but recall the valor of your progenitors.
“On whom, then, does the work of avenging these wrongs and recovering this territory fall, if not on you—you upon whom, above all other nations, God has bestowed great glory in battle, great courage, bodily strength, and power to humble those who resist you?
Let the deeds of your ancestors encourage you and stir your minds to brave action: the greatness of King Charlemagne, of his son Louis, and of your other kings, who destroyed the kingdoms of the Turks and extended the rule of the Church over lands once held by pagans. Let the holy sepulcher of our Lord and Savior, now possessed by unclean nations, especially move you, and the holy places that are now treated with shame and polluted by the filth of the unclean.
O most valiant soldiers, descendants of invincible ancestors, do not fall away from the character of your forefathers, but remember their courage.”
Leaving Home for the Sake of Christ
"But if you are hindered by love of children, parents, or of wife, remember what the Lord says in the Gospel, 'He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me', 'Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.' Let none of your possessions retain you, nor solicitude for your family affairs. For this land which you inhabit, shut in on all sides by the seas and surrounded by the mountain peaks, is too narrow for your large population; nor does it abound in wealth; and it furnishes scarcely food enough for its cultivators. Hence it is that you murder and devour one another, that you wage war, and that very many among you perish in intestine strife.
“But if love for children, parents, or wife keeps you back, remember what the Lord says in the Gospel: ‘He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,’ and, ‘Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.’
Let none of your possessions hold you back, nor concern for family matters. For this land in which you live, enclosed on all sides by seas and surrounded by mountain peaks, is too narrow for your large population. It does not have great wealth, and it provides barely enough food for those who cultivate it. This is why you kill and consume one another, wage war, and so many of you perish in civil strife.”
From Private War to Holy War
The Holy Land and Jerusalem
"Let hatred therefore depart from among you, let your quarrels end, let wars cease, and let all dissensions and controversies slumber. Enter upon the road to the Holy Sepulcher, wrest that land from the wicked race, and subject it to yourselves. That land which, as the Scripture says, 'floweth with milk and honey' was given by God into the power of the children of Israel. Jerusalem is the center of the earth; the land is fruitful above all others, like another paradise of delights. This spot the Redeemer of mankind has made illustrious by his advent, has beautified by his sojourn, has consecrated by his passion, has redeemed by his death, has glorified by his burial.
"This royal city, however, situated at the center of the earth, is now held captive by the enemies of Christ and is subjected by those who do not know God to the worship of the heathen. She seeks, therefore, and desires to be liberated and ceases not to implore you to come to her aid.
“Let hatred, then, depart from among you. Let your quarrels end, let wars cease, and let all dissensions and controversies sleep. Take the road to the Holy Sepulcher. Rescue that land from the wicked people and bring it under your control.
That land, which as Scripture says ‘floweth with milk and honey,’ was given by God to the children of Israel. Jerusalem is the center of the earth. The land is more fruitful than all others, like another paradise of delight. This place the Redeemer of mankind made famous by his coming, honored by his dwelling there, made holy by his suffering, redeemed by his death, and glorified by his burial.
But this royal city, set at the center of the earth, is now held captive by the enemies of Christ and is given over by those who do not know God to the worship of the heathen. Therefore she seeks and longs to be set free and does not stop begging you to come to her aid.”
Promise of Spiritual Reward
From you especially she asks succor, because as we have already said, God has conferred upon you above all other nations great glory in arms. Accordingly, undertake this journey eagerly for the remission of your sins, with the assurance of the reward of imperishable glory in the kingdom of heaven.
“From you especially she asks help, because, as we have already said, God has given you above all other nations great glory in battle. Therefore undertake this journey eagerly for the forgiveness of your sins, with the assurance of the reward of unfading glory in the kingdom of heaven.”
“It Is the Will of God”
When Pope Urban had said these and very similar things, he so centered in one purpose the desires of all who were present that all cried out, "It is the will of God! It is the will of God!" When the venerable Roman pontiff heard that, with eyes uplifted to heaven, he gave thanks to God and, commanding silence with his hand, said:
"Most beloved brethren, today is manifest in you what the Lord says in the Gospel, 'Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them'; for unless God had been present in your spirits, all of you would not have uttered the same cry; since, although the cry issued from numerous mouths, yet the origin of the cry was one. Therefore I say to you that God, who implanted it in your breasts, has drawn it forth from you. Let that then be your war cry in combats, because it is given to you by God. When an armed attack is made upon the enemy, let this one cry be raised by all the soldiers of God: 'It is the will of God! It is the will of God!'
When Pope Urban had said these and similar things, he so united the desires of all who were present in one purpose that they all cried out, “It is the will of God! It is the will of God!”
When the Roman pontiff heard this, he lifted his eyes to heaven, gave thanks to God, and with his hand called for silence. Then he said:
“Most beloved brothers, today there is made clear in you what the Lord says in the Gospel: ‘Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.’ For unless God had been present in your spirits, all of you would not have spoken the same cry. Although the cry came from many mouths, its source was one.
Therefore I say to you that God, who placed it in your hearts, has drawn it out from you. Let this then be your battle cry in combat, because it is given to you by God. When an armed attack is made upon the enemy, let this one cry be raised by all the soldiers of God: ‘It is the will of God! It is the will of God!’”
Who Should and Should Not Go
"And we neither command nor advise that the old or those incapable of bearing arms undertake this journey. Nor ought women to set out at all without their husbands, or brother, or legal guardians. For such are more of a hindrance than aid, more of a burden than an advantage. Let the rich aid the needy and according to their wealth let them take with them experienced soldiers. The priests and other clerks, whether secular or regulars, are not to go without the consent of their bishop; for this journey would profit them nothing if they went without permission. Also, it is not fitting that laymen should enter upon the pilgrimage without the blessing of their priests.
“And we neither command nor advise that the old, or those unable to bear arms, undertake this journey. Nor should women set out at all without their husbands, brothers, or lawful guardians, for such persons are more of a hindrance than a help, more of a burden than an advantage.
Let the rich help the poor, and according to their means let them take experienced soldiers with them. Priests and other clergy, whether secular or regular, are not to go without the permission of their bishop, for this journey would profit them nothing if they went without approval. Also, it is not fitting for laymen to begin the pilgrimage without the blessing of their priests.”
Taking the Cross
"Whoever, therefore, shall determine upon this holy pilgrimage, and shall make his vow to God to that effect, and shall offer himself to him for sacrifice, as a living victim, holy and acceptable to God, shall wear the sign of the cross of the Lord on his forehead or on his breast. When, indeed, he shall return from his journey, having fulfilled his vow, let him place the cross on his back between his shoulders. Thus shall ye, indeed, by this twofold action, fulfill the precept of the Lord, as he commands in the Gospel, 'He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.'
“Whoever, therefore, decides on this holy pilgrimage, and makes a vow to God to do it, and offers himself to him as a sacrifice, as a living offering holy and acceptable to God, shall wear the sign of the Lord’s cross on his forehead or on his breast.
And when he returns from his journey, having fulfilled his vow, let him place the cross on his back between his shoulders. In this twofold action you will fulfill the command of the Lord, as he says in the Gospel: ‘He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.’”
Try This This Week
This text is not only about a speech in history. It raises questions about power, violence, holiness, devotion, and the ways Christian language can be used to move people toward action. Choose one practice and one conversation starter.
Practices
Pick one for the week.
- Read slowly. Return to one section and notice what kind of emotions it is trying to stir.
- Watch for religious language and power. Pay attention this week to how spiritual language is used to persuade people toward action.
- Pray for the Church’s witness. Ask for wisdom, humility, and faithfulness whenever Christians speak about conflict, power, or public action.
- Examine your own instincts. When do you find yourself drawn more to triumph, control, or force than to the way of Christ?
- Notice the use of Scripture. Ask how biblical words are being used here and what effect they have on the hearers.
Conversation Starters
Use these with a friend or group.
- What makes this speech persuasive?
- How does Urban connect Christian faith with military action?
- What parts of this text feel compelling, and what parts feel troubling?
- How should Christians think carefully about power, violence, and holy language?
- What does this speech reveal about the Church in this period of history?
Optional: Invite a Spiritual Friend
One trusted person can help you pay attention to how Christian history sharpens your own discernment, especially around the use of power, fear, and religious conviction.
Consider asking one person to check in with you once this week with two simple questions: “What did this text stir in you?” and “What is it helping you see about Christian witness more clearly?”