Pope Urban II vs. Arab 3) The First Crusade first started when Pope Urban II was elected to a new position of leadership. He decided to focus on a new cause, which was freeing Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the Seljuk Turks. In his speech, Pope Urban II first begins by explaining how he was promised to keep the peace among themselves and to conserve the rights of the church. However, he now understands that they must apply the strength of their righteousness to another matter. Pope Urban talks about how they are in dire need of the help of God to give the people aid, which he said was promised to them. He is talking about the attack that the Turks and Arabs have committed on the Pope's people. They have also conquered the territory of a