Alexander II was a Benedictine monk and Pope who led the Roman Catholic Church from 1061 until 1073. Born Anselm of Baggio near Milan, he was a key figure in the Pataria reform movement, which sought to address corruption within the clergy. Before his election as pontiff, he served as the Bishop of Lucca. His rise to power marked a significant shift in papal history, as he was the first pope elected solely by cardinals without the participation of the Roman people or minor clergy.