Pope Urban II - A Call to War - Speech at Clermont 1095 AD

In the year 1095, the world was on the brink of monumental change. The city of Jerusalem, the spiritual heart of Christianity, was under Muslim control, and the Byzantine Empire was under siege by the Seljuk Turks. In response to this crisis, Pope Urban II called a council in the French city of Clermont, where he delivered one of the most influential speeches in history. With his words, he ignited a fervor that would unite thousands of Christians across Europe in a common cause: to reclaim the Holy Land. Today, we take you back to that fateful day when a single speech set the stage for the First Crusade. Listen now as Pope Urban II speaks to the faithful, calling them to arms and forever changing the course of history.