View source for Pope Honorius III

===Approval of religious orders and other works===
[[File:Giotto di Bondone 073.jpg|thumb|upright|240px|''Saint Francis preaches in the presence of Honorius III'': fresco by [[Giotto]] in the [[Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi]] ({{circa|1296–98}})]]

Pope Honorius III approved the [[Dominican Order]] in 1216,<ref>''Religiosam vitam'': A. Tommassetti, ''Bullarum, Diplomatum, et Privilegiorum Sanctorum Romanorum Pontificum Taurinensis editio'' III (Turin 1858), p. 309–311 (December 22, 1216).</ref> the [[Franciscan Order]] in 1223,<ref>''Solet annuere'': A. Tommassetti, ''Bullarum, Diplomatum, et Privilegiorum Sanctorum Romanorum Pontificum Taurinensis editio'' III (Turin 1858), p. 394–397 (November 29, 1223).</ref> and the [[Carmelite Order]]'s [[Carmelite Rule of St. Albert|Rule of St. Albert of Jerusalem]] in 1226.<ref>''Ut vivendi'': A. Tommassetti, ''Bullarum, Diplomatum, et Privilegiorum Sanctorum Romanorum Pontificum Taurinensis editio'' III (Turin 1858), p. 415–417 (January 30, 1226).</ref>

In 1219 Honorius III invited [[Saint Dominic]] and his companions to take up residence at the ancient Roman [[basilica]] of [[Santa Sabina]], which they did by early 1220. Before that time the friars had only a temporary residence in [[Rome]] at the convent of [[San Sisto Vecchio]], which Honorius had given to St. Dominic c. 1218, intending it to become a convent for a reformation of nuns in Rome under Dominic's guidance. The ''studium conventuale'' at Santa Sabina was the forerunner of the [[Dominican Order|Dominican]] ''[[studium generale]]'' at [[Santa Maria sopra Minerva]].<ref>This institution would be transformed in the 16th century into the College of Saint Thomas ({{langx|la|Collegium Divi Thomæ}}), and then in the 20th century into the [[Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas]] (the "Angelicum"), sited at the convent of [[Santi Domenico e Sisto|Saints Dominic and Sixtus]]. The curriculum specializes in the strict interpretation of the theology of St. Thomas Aquinas; 3/4 of its 1000 students are from the clergy.</ref>

In 1217 Honorius III gave the title of [[King of Serbia]] to [[Stefan the First-Crowned]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Grumeza |first1=Ion |title=The Roots of Balkanization Eastern Europe C.E. 500-1500 |date=2010 |publisher=University Press of America |location=United States of America |isbn=978-0-7618-5135-6 |page=161}}</ref>

During his pontificate, many of the [[third order|tertiary orders]] came into existence. He approved the Franciscan [[Secular Franciscan Order|Brothers and Sisters of Penance]] Rule in 1221 with the bull ''Memoriale propositi''. He also approved the religious congregation [[Order of Val des Écoliers|"Val des Écoliers"]] (valley of scholars), which had been founded by four pious professors of theology at the [[University of Paris]], [[France]].<ref name="Catholic"/>

Being a man of learning, Honorius insisted that the clergy receive a thorough education, especially in theology. In the case of a certain Hugh whom the chapter of [[Chartres]] had elected bishop, he withheld his approbation because the bishop-elect did not possess sufficient knowledge, ''quum pateretur in litteratura defectum'', as the Pope stated in a letter dated 8 January 1219. He even deprived another bishop of his office on account of illiteracy. Honorius bestowed various privileges upon the [[University of Paris]] and [[University of Bologna]], the two greatest seats of learning during those times. In order to facilitate the study of theology in dioceses that were distant from the great centers of learning, he ordered in the bull ''Super specula Domini'' that some talented young men should be sent to a recognized theological school to study theology with the purpose of teaching it afterwards in their dioceses.<ref name="Catholic">{{Catholic|wstitle=Pope Honorius III|inline=1}}</ref>