Editing Pope Nicholas I (section)

==Early career==
Born to a distinguished family in [[Rome]], son of the Defensor Theodore, Nicholas received excellent education. Distinguished for his piety, benevolence, competence, knowledge, and eloquence, he entered the service of the Church at an early age. [[Pope Sergius II]] (844–847) made him a subdeacon and [[Pope Leo IV]] (847–855) a deacon. After the death of [[Pope Benedict III]] on 17 April 858, [[Louis II of Italy]] came to Rome to [[Papal selection before 1059|influence the papal election]]. On 24 April Nicholas was elected [[pope]], consecrated, and enthroned in [[St. Peter's Basilica]] in the presence of Emperor Louis.<ref name=O'Malley>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sWHwrmZowu8C&dq=Cadaver+Synod&pg=PA80|title=A History of the Popes: From Peter to the Present|first=John W. |last=O'Malley SJ|date=November 16, 2009|publisher=Government Institutes|via=Google Books}}</ref> Three days later, Nicholas held a farewell banquet for the emperor and afterward, accompanied by the Roman nobility, visited him in his camp before the city, on which occasion the emperor met the pope and led his horse for some distance.<ref name=Kirsch>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11054a.htm|title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Pope Saint Nicholas I|website=www.newadvent.org}}</ref>