Who was the pope that initiated the First Crusade in 1095?

Pope Urban II initiated the First Crusade in 1095 as a response to a request for aid from the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos, who was seeking assistance against the advancing Seljuk Turks. Urban II saw this as an opportunity not only to help a fellow Christian leader but also to reclaim the Holy Land, particularly Jerusalem, which had fallen under Muslim control. His call to arms was made during a speech at the Council of Clermont, where he emphasized the need for Christian knights to undertake this pilgrimage and defend their faith. This call resulted in a mobilization of forces from various parts of Europe, marking the beginning of a series of Crusades that would have lasting impacts on Christian-Muslim relations and European history.

The other popes mentioned did not initiate the crusade; Pope Leo X, for example, is known for his role during the Reformation in the early 16th century, while Pope Gregory VII was influential in the Investiture Controversy in the late 11th century. Pope John Paul II, on the other hand, was a prominent figure in the late 20th century, focusing on reconciliation and interfaith dialogue rather than military campaigns.