Editing Pope Stephen II (section)

==Election==
In 751, the [[Lombards|Lombard]] king [[Aistulf]] captured the [[Exarchate of Ravenna]], and turned his attention to the [[Duchy of Rome]].<ref name="ce">[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14288c.htm Mann, Horace. "Pope Stephen (II) III." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 12 September 2017</ref> Stephen, a Roman aristocrat and member of the [[Orsini family]],<ref>Norwich, J. J. "The Popes: A History", p. 756. 2011</ref><ref>George L. Williams, ''Papal Genealogy'', (McFarland & Company, 2004), 215.</ref> was [[papal selection before 1059|selected]] on 26 March 752 to succeed [[Pope Zachary]] following the recent death of [[Pope-elect Stephen]].