Humbert of Silva Candida,O.S.B., also known asHumbert of Moyenmoutier (c. 1000 to 1015 – 5 May 1061) was a FrenchBenedictineabbot and latercardinal. It was his act ofexcommunicating thePatriarch of Constantinople,Michael I Cerularius, in 1054 that is generally regarded as the precipitating event of theEast–West Schism between theRoman Catholic Church and theEastern Orthodox Church.
When Humbert was 15 years old, his parents sent him to theAbbey of Moyenmoutier inLorraine as anoblate destined for monastic life according to theRule of St. Benedict.[1] When he came of age, he entered the Order and was later elected abbot of the monastery. He became friends with Bruno,Bishop of Toul, who was electedPope Leo IX in 1048 and who brought the monk to Rome to assist him after his election.[2]
Pope Leo appointed HumbertArchbishop of Sicily in 1050.[1] However, theNorman rulers of the island prevented him from landing there. Instead, he was appointedCardinal-Bishop of Silva Candida the following year.[1] It has been suggested that he was the first Frenchman to be made a cardinal.[2]
Under Leo, Humbert became chief papal secretary, and while traveling inApulia in 1053, he received from John,Bishop of Trani, a letter fromLeo, Archbishop of Ochrid, criticizing Western rites and practices.[3] He translated theGreek letter intoLatin and gave it to the Pope, who ordered a reply. This exchange led to Humbert being sent toConstantinople at the head of alegatine mission with Frederick of Lorraine (laterPope Stephen IX), and Peter,Archbishop of Amalfi, to confront thePatriarchMichael Cerularius.[3]
Humbert was warmly received by theEmperorConstantine IX, but was spurned by the Patriarch. Finally, on 16 July 1054, during the celebration of theDivine Liturgy, Humbert placed apapal bullexcommunicating the Patriarch on the high altar of the Cathedral ofHagia Sophia, unaware that Pope Leo had died a few weeks earlier in April, which some historians have suggested meant that the excommunication was invalid.[1] This event officially crystallized the gradual estrangement of Eastern and Western Christianity that had taken place over the centuries, and is traditionally used to date the beginning of theGreat Schism.[4]
In his later years, Humbert was appointed librarian of theRoman Curia byPope Stephen IX, his former legatine companion, and he wrote the reform treatiseLibri tres adversus Simoniacos ("Three Books Against the Simoniacs") (1057), which criticized those who bought or sold ecclesiastical offices (simony), including kings, for whom it had been common practice.[5] Humbert's argument that simoniacal ordinations and sacraments were invalid was refuted byPeter Damian. Humbert is also credited as the mastermind behind the1059 Election Decree, which decreed that popes would henceforth be elected by theCollege of Cardinals.[1]
He traveled extensively throughout Italy in the later years of his life, in part due to the election ofAntipope Benedict X in 1058. He did, however, attend theLateranSynod in April 1059.[2] Humbert died in Rome on 5 May 1061, and was buried in theLateran Basilica.[2]
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