the papacy
A lot happened with the papacy between the times of 500 and 1500 CE.It gained its significance as time went on, starting out as virtually nothing and ending upas a major power, ups and downs in between. These changes were due to both eventsand people, both outside and inside the Church. Essentially, it all began with Pope Leo the Great and the legacy that he leftbehind. This is where the popes' prestige all began. Before him, the power wielded tothe pope was questionable and many times overlooked. But once he took on the title ofSupreme Pontiff, it was clear how things were to be. Another thing that was born by himwas the pope regulating ecumenical councils. Leo started this when it came time for theCouncil of Chalcedon. It was just another way he found to exercise his power as theultimate bishop, the bishop of Rome. Not only did he show that the pope was to be astrong religious leader, he proved that politics were important, too. He intervened inseveral attacks against Rome and ended up safeguarding the city through simplediscussions. Leo the Great set new standards for the bishop of Rome and left poeple toreally revere those who took on the role.
Christianity was given opportunities it did not have before. One of the highest points in the papacy was when it crossed paths withCharlemagne in the Eigth century. Subjectively, it did help to strengthen the Church. He wasknown for starting and running a monastery, as well as taking on the many duties ofbeing pope. Gregory also found power indealing with the Germanic tribes that were threatening the Eastern Empire, eventuallycoming to terms with them peacefully. Through his father, Pepin, the Church received amass of land which was in and of itself a form of power for the papacy and the Church atthe time. Heestablished things like the Justinian Code, which in some ways benefited the Church as awhole but at the same time, did not. I think that this was the final installment of what would be needed for whatwould be considered the papacy. anti-popes, variousforms of corruption, etc). It led to rampant persecutions of other religionswhich is anything but Christian like. Though at the same time, therelationship put the papacy in a place where it could be bought over and was in essence,at the mercy of the Emperor by obligation. Gregory theGreat developed the papacy further in the aspects of service to his poeple. Papacyhad, in fact, become an undeniable reality. Justinian was a prime example of this and as an emperor practicing it, he gavehimself rights and powers in the Church which were really not his to have.
Common topics in this essay:
III Regardless,
Church Christianity,
Council Chalcedon,
Church Emperor,
,
Donation Pepin,
Eastern Empire,
Pope Leo,
Papism Justinian,
Supreme Pontiff,
bishop rome,
caesero papism,
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