Growth of Papal Power

• Pope Gregory I, the Great stood out as an excellent example of how a Pope was able to assert his authority in matters of governance as well as expand the Church's influence though missionary initiatives
• Italy was overun by Ostrogoths, and during Justinian's foray to reclaim the West it became a province of the Byzantine Empire
• Pope Gregory I began governing Rome by raising an army financed by the Church as well as by repairing roads and raising revenues
• His vision of Christendom was a "spiritual kingdom" that transcended political boundaries.
• The establishment of the Papal States that was started by Pepin the Short when he defeated the Lombard, contributed to the growing power of the Church
• Papal supremacy is a doctrine in the Roman Catholic Church that holds that the Pope possesses supreme authority within the Church over matters of Church doctrine and Church affairs.