Pietro Igneo was born to a noble family in
Florence. He was a relative to
John Gualbert, and the uncle of
Bernardo degli Uberti. This accusation turned into conflict and intense agitation in Florence. The
Vallombrosian monks were his chief accusers and upon the insistence of the people for proof the judgment of God - or a trial through fire - was resorted to settle the matter. The abbot (and his relative) John Gualbert designated for the test Pietro who underwent the ordeal on 23 February 1068 (he succeeded) and was hence called "Igneo" which meant "fire-tried". This triumph of the monks led to a confession on the part of the bishop. Igneo soon became the abbot for San Salvatore in Fucecchio and he held that position until 1081. In 1072 he was designated as a cardinal and
Pope Alexander II named him
Cardinal-Bishop of Albano. Gregory VII entrusted him with several important missions: in 1079 he served as a
papal legate in the German kingdom with the
Bishop of Padua to mediate between the
Emperor Henry IV and
Rudolf of Swabia. Upon the renewal of the excommunication against the emperor at
Salerno in 1084 he was designated - at
Pope Gregory VII's behest - as one of the two legates sent to
France for the promulgation of the sentence. He is mentioned in the
papal bull of
Pope Urban II on 8 July 1089 and is attested for the last time in the papal curia in September 1089. Igneo served as a co-consecrator for the
episcopal consecration of the new
Pope Victor III in 1087. He participated in the conclaves held
in 1086 and
in 1088. He died on 11 November 1089. ==References==