Papareschi came from a Roman family, probably of the rione Trastevere. Pope Paschal II (1099–1118) made him a cardinal deacon. In this capacity, he accompanied Pope Gelasius II (1118–19) when he was driven into France. By Pope Calixtus II (1119–24) he was selected for various important and difficult missions, such as the one to Worms for concluding the Concordat of Worms, the peace accord with the emperor, in 1122, and the one to France in 1123.