He was a Roman, son of Benedictus de Suburra, probably of the family of Demetri, and became a secular clerk. He was created cardinal-priest of S. Pudenziana by Pope Paschal II no later than in 1114. In 1127 or 1128 Pope Honorius II promoted him to the suburbicarian see of Sabina He had taken part in the double papal election, 1130, had been one of the most determined opponents of antipope Anacletus II (1130–38) and, when Pope Innocent II (1130–43) fled to France, had been left behind as his vicar in Italy. At the time of his election to the papacy in July 1153 he was dean of the College of Cardinals and probably the oldest member of that body.