Urban II’s speech is very interesting. As a Pope it is full of Christian and “holy” rhetoric but , he also utters statements that have very pointed and even skewed implications. Many times in this short speech he lets the audience know that the Christian Europeans are the righteous people; the people of God. He tries to bring these people together, he often calls them brothers: Your “brothers in the east are in need of aid” (39), “let those who have been fighting against their brothers and relatives fight in the proper war” (40). He puts a spin on the enemy as well depicting the enemy as demon worshiping barbarians. I thought that the way he depicted their Muslim enemy was interesting as just a few centuries earlier most of the Christians in the greater Europe were in fact barbarians. Both these statement most likely play on the ignorance of the audience, as they probably don’t know much about their attackers culture or religion (Allah is the same god represented in the bible). He calls them infidels (non-believers) and tells the audience that Christ commands that they must “destroy that vile race” (39). This really lets you know that it is more than just beliefs that separate the Muslims from the Christian; race is also playing a factor. So when the Pope declares that all brothers come together to fight this enemy, he is not specifically meaning Christians but more so Europeans in general.
Another case to point out is that in many instances that we have discussed in our course is whenever something bad has happened, the people usually look at themselves and see what they may be doing wrong. However in this instance, the Pope calls the victims of the invasion the “faithful of God” (39). He gives the impression that they are morally right and are not at fault. He uses this invasion not as an opportunity of pious reflection but as a rallying call. He calls the rich and poor to fight the infidels. He even uses his authority and connection with divinity to lure people into the crusade. He offers “immediate remission of sins” (forgiveness) to any who die in the cause (40). Chance for all to come together robbers turn to knights brothers (whites join together)
Another case to point out is that in many instances that we have discussed in our course is whenever something bad has happened, the people usually look at themselves and see what they may be doing wrong. However in this instance, the Pope calls the victims of the invasion the “faithful of God” (39). He gives the impression that they are morally right and are not at fault. He uses this invasion not as an opportunity of pious reflection but as a rallying call. He calls the rich and poor to fight the infidels. He even uses his authority and connection with divinity to lure people into the crusade. He offers “immediate remission of sins” (forgiveness) to any who die in the cause (40). Chance for all to come together robbers turn to knights brothers (whites join together)