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 up
as a major power, ups and downs in between. These changes were due to both events
and people, both outside and inside the Church.
Essentially, it all began with Pope Leo the Great and the legacy that he left
behind. This is where the popes' prestige all began. Before him, the power wielded to
the pope was questionable and many times overlooked. But once he took on the title of
Supreme Pontiff, it was clear how things were to be. Another thing that was born by him
was the pope regulating ecumenical councils. Leo started this when it came time for the
Council of Chalcedon. It was just another way he found to exercise his power as the
ultimate bishop, the bishop of Rome. Not only did he show that the pope was to be a
strong religious leader, he proved that politics were important, too. He intervened in
several attacks against Rome and ended up safeguarding the city through simple
discussions. Leo the Great set new standards for the bishop of Rome and left poeple to
really revere those who took on the role.
There were things that hindered the strength of the papacy, such as Caesero
Papism. Justinian was a prime example of this and as an emperor practicing it, he gave
himself rights and powers in the Church which were really not his to have. He
established things like the Justinian Code, which in some ways benefited the Church as a
whole but at the same time, did not. It led to rampant persecutions of other religions
which is anything but Christian like. Subjectively, it did help to strengthen the Church.
Christianity was given opportunities it did not have before. It was given the ability to be
the dominant religion. However, it did give the emperor the opportunity to impede on
the powers of the papacy, leaving thin...