The Reform Papacy

• Papal Campaigns


  The papacy becoming involved in places which it didn't need to be in
• Infuedation of weakly placed or insecure governments

  The papacy taking interest in military campaigns which was welcomed by the princes and kings carrying them out, although they had different motives
• Campaigns approved by the Pope

  1. Given the banner of St. Peter

  2. Carried out in the name of 'christian justice'
• Campaigns approved by the Pope

  • William the Conqueror's invasion of England 1066
  • Riger of Sicily 1064
• What the campaigns signified was the blessing of St. Peter through his successor, the pope, of military action: it was a public 'sanctification' of war or warlike measures
• Pontificate


  The period of being a pope
• The break with the East was not yet 20 years old when Gregory became pope, but his mind was already actively engaged in the planning of a military campaign against the East
• Hildebrand (Gregory VII)


  • Played a key role in guiding the church through conflict
  • Cleared Sicily of the Saracens in 1072
  • Connected to King Sancho Ramirez of Aragon in 1068 who then became a papal vassal
• Hildebrand (Gregory VII)


  • Provided support for the Norman and French military contingent who were fighting in Spain
• Gregory VII's view of himself


  The 'executor of ancient decrees, laws, views' who wanted to display pure ideology
• Primary aim of Gregory VII's papacy

  To "release the sacerdotal section of the Church from the fetters"
• Gregory VII's papacy


  • Involved reduction of monarchic power
  • Led to question of what is the role of a christian king in a christian society?
  • Proposed the idea of a hierarchical society with the Pope at the top acting as 'monarchic ruler'
• Gregory VII's assumption about the Church

  An organic, corporate and public union of all Christians, clergy and laity alike
• Gregory VII's view of the Church

  Spiritual and universal as it was mundane
• Gregory VII's policies


  • Insisted on freedom of the clergy as church government could only be in the hands of those who were qualified in ecclesiastical offices
  • Believed hierarchy was necessary to prevent conflict and in moments when justice was required
• Gregory VII's view of justice


  • A key part of operations in church government, esp. the papacy
  • They wanted to 'inspire the law ordering society' thus 'only properly qualified officers could be entrusted with its interpretation and fixation'
• Gregory VII's view of the papacy

  Whatever emanated from the papacy, was said to bear the stamp of divine sanction, and unconditional obedience to the papacy was therefore demanded
• Disobedience to the papacy

  Went against humility
• Gregory VII said he was a reincarnation of St Peter and St Paul
• Gregory VII's election and governing role

  • Elected in April 1073, he took to a governing role very quickly despite having not even been an ordained priest
  • Rapid expansion of papal authority via the infeudations (e.g. "despatch of papal legations to Spain")
• Gregory VII's desire as archdeacon


  To have a small book established that would contain 'all the prerogatives of the Roman Church'
• Dictatus Papae


  • Contrasted the 'efficacious German practices' as they were so Roman-Latin
  • German society prioritised 'loyalty and fidelity' but Roman society prioritised divine hierarchy
  • A challenge to social reality
• The Pope


  Is both the Pope and Bishop of Rome - these are not the same thing
• Leo the Great's view

  Each Pope was heir to St. Peter's office, each Pope inherited direct from St. Peter but none could ever measure up to him (doesn't inherit his merits)
• Ennodius of Pevia's view

  Each Pope was illuminated by St. Peter's merits not that they shared them
• Indignus Irae


  Term from Roman law
• Keys of the kingdom

  Gave Peter (who assumes a primal papal role) the ability to speak 'ex cathedra', meaning to speak as Christ's representative on Earth. His words were thus infallible.
• In this Paul preaches that who is doing the teaching is unimportant, it is what they teach (and whether it aligns with what God intended) that is important. Thus despite the RCC's ruling on receiving anathema for rejecting the Pope, it is only those who teach incorrectly who get cursed.
• To Gregory VII, as the successor of St Peter no person nor issue fell out of his jurisdiction
• Idea of totality


  Perhaps why he was unsatisfied by partial measures
• Matthew 18 is the title deed, because of the keys to the kingdom of heaven the pope has jurisdiction on heaven and earth
• The use of 'legere' reflects the language of Roman Laws
• Gregory VII: '"No one is placed before us in more anxious or abundant solicitude"'
• Dictatus Papae


  Basically priority of the papal interests over any other
• Justifies priority of papal interests


  By saying all things should be 'to the advantage of the church' and to honour god
• Gregory VII: '"We may avail to recall him to the love of the holy Roman church which is his mother, and to instruct and adorn him in a befitting manner of life for receiving the imperial office"'
• Wants to control the emperor

  Via church teachings, so in receiving the ability to appoint clergy he needs to abide by our rules
• Gregory VII: '"I deny to King Henry, son of the Emperor Henry, who has risen up with unheard-of pride against your church, the government of the entire kingdom of the Germans and of Italy, and I absolve all Christians from the bond of any oath that they have taken, or shall take, to him; and I forbid anyone to serve him as king."'
• Gregory VII: '"And therefore I believe it to be by your grace and not by my works that it has pleased, and does please, you (St. Peter) that the Christian people entrusted especially to you should be obedient especially to me through your vicarship committed to me."'
• First recorded after the Lenten synod of 1075, 'Dictates of the Pope' has 27 chapters relating to the papal and bishops' power