For Pope Urban II, the Arabs and the Turks capturing the Byzantine Empire is a good enough reason to go to war. The Pope claimed that they took more Christian land while killing them and destroying the empire (Document …show more content…
Since they are fellow Christians too, Urban II ,as well as others, feel that they must fight back before more land gets taken over. Not to mention, with the Pope saying,“Moreover Christ commands it,” they all now feel that it is truly a decree from God and if they do not act, more will be destroyed (8.4). Now as far as jus ad bellum goes, the Pope’s reasoning for war does not completely fall within the idea. Now, yes, the Muslims and Turks have attacked other Christians in other lands, but they have not personally attacked the Pope and the people in Clermont, France. The Pope even says, “O what a disgrace if such a despised and base race, which worship demons, should conquer a people which has the faith of omnipotent God......(8.4).” This is how strongly he feels about Muslims and is really his main want for going to war which really is not legitimate. He and those who follow him, feel a sense of superiority and will not stand for such a “base race” to have that much power (8.4). Also, the statement indicates that the Pope has a desire to kill all Muslims not even taking into