papalhistory

                   GENERAL HISTORY

The display lists all the popes from Peter through John Paul 2. Each pope is color coded. The
rainbows indicate the best popes. Clouds indicate good popes. Boxed frames indicate popes who
were narrow in their thinking. Scrolls indicate popes who were very legalistic. White pages indicate
popes who were bland or even bad.

The display also includes significant persons and significant events in the church's history.

                          EARLIEST CHURCH

Struggled simply to exist.

Many leaders and ordinary Christians put to death.

A few defected rather than die.

Church remained firm and vibrant.

Then Church became official and was recognized as legitimate. Then theological disputes began.

Then one of popes' major role: preserve the faith and make sure heresy was contained.

                           ABOUT 500 A.D.

Popes were suddenly political creatures.

They began to wine and dine with emperors and kings.

A constant struggle between pope and king, pope and emperor for control.

A new phenomenon - the antipope.

                               NEXT 950 YEARS

At least twenty-five antipopes appear in the Church.

Roughly fifteen percent. of the time there is an antipope.

NEAR END OF 1ST MILLENNIUM OF CHRISTIANITY

Papacy in a turmoil. There were popes and antipopes.

At times it wasn't clear who was the real pope.

Popes were killed.

Three consecutive layman were elected pope.

Popes are dying off rather quickly at this time.

                               ERA OF ANTIPOPES

Many antipopes may be due to manner of electing popes.

Prior to 1059 popes elected by the clergy and laity of Rome.

He was after all Bishop of Rome.

After 1059 elected by clergy alone but needed approval of people.

By 1179 only cardinals (a small elite group) elect the pope.

                                          SCHISMS

Since 1054 A.D. another new phenomenon surfaces - the schism. A schism is not a split over
doctrinal issues. It is a breach in communion. The Church is no longer united. Individuals and
groups can now declare themselves cut off from the Church. They can set up their own church and
excommunicate everyone who doesn't agree with them.

                     NEAR END OF 11TH CENTURY

A dramatic change in the papacy.

Beginning with Gregory VII popes claim authority over entire church. Begin to fight with the
temporal rulers.

You become what you fight.

So, popes take on characteristics of temporal rulers they fight.

Popes ran away and they were imprisoned.

Difficult times to be a pope.

                             CONCORDAT OF WORMS

Signed during papacy of Callistus II (1119-1124)

Under agreement emperor renounced any power in election of bishops. Pope conceded that in
Germany election of abbots and bishops would be held in his presence. Emperor would invest the
newly elected with the scepter, the symbol of temporal authority. In a contested election the
emperor would make the choice. The concordat was ratified by the Lateran Council of 1123.

                                      CRUSADES

Popes became more militant, it was reflected in church activity. Era of the crusades.

Seeds of the infamous Inquisition laid at this time by Lucius III

Lucius (1181-1185) defined procedures by which heretics tried.

10 of the church's 21 councils were held in this time (1073-1521).

                           GREAT WESTERN SCHISM

Constant struggle between France and Italy for control of church. For 70 years pope (the Bishop of
Rome) resides in France.

But then, no bishop was required to live in his own diocese.

The bishop was not first and foremost a pastor.

Many bishops sons of prominent bankers, politicians, wealthy families.

Often church offices: bishop, pastor, cardinal sold to highest bidder.

If one was outbid he would
set up an antipope receive office from your pope.

For 40 years two popes in the west, the Great Western Schism.

          “BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY” OF THE POPES

Schisms, placing papal elections in hands of a few elite rich

Selling of offices to highest bidder, and other problems

Church was rife for reform.

Church leaders failed to initiate reform

Reform started at a grass roots level.

An era when church branched out to China.

Pope lived in Avignon not Rome, "Babylonian Captivity" of popes.

     EFFECTS OF CENTRALIZATION OF CHURCH POWER

Whatever pope did had repercussions throughout entire church. Previously good or bad popes
had an impact only on a small area. Now good or bad popes were felt throughout the Christian
world.
During this time church became the Roman Catholic Church

Pope its sole leader regarded as the contemporary Peter.

Today we view this ws a phenomenon instituted by Jesus Christ. Actually it took the church over
1000 years to evolve this idea.

                                      BLACK DEATH

This was also the era of the "Black Death".

1/3 of Europeans died as result of various diseases and plagues. A time that saw the beginning of
exploration of the "new world".

                       PROTESTANT REFORMATION

Began during Leo X's pontificate. (1513-1521)

One of major causes selling of indulgences and church offices. Not a problem created by Leo but
one Leo failed to correct.

Leo X was a member of the powerful de' Medici family.

Leo was thirteen years old when he was made a cardinal.

At age thirteen Leo became one of the select few (at times no more than six or seven, at most
twenty to thirty persons) who elect our popes. They were more often than not appointed at the
persuasion of powerful and wealthy families. They were a neat but powerful group. At one time the
French would dominate, then the Italians, then the Spanish. It's no wonder we had so many papal
problems.

Leo was a strong promoter of the Renaissance. He also was obsessed with military battles. So when
Martin Luther tacked up his ninety-five thesis Leo regarded him simply as a quarrelsome monk.
When Luther failed to conform as Leo hoped that he would, Leo excommunicated Luther.

               INACTION OF CLEMENT VII (1523-1534)

Many urged Clement V to call general council to deal with rise of Protestantism in Germany.

Voices included Luther himself and the Emperor.

Clement afraid general council would make council superior to pope

Firm action might have checked spread of Protestantism.

Henry VIII of England asked for ruling on his marriage in 1527. Clement delayed decision thinking
problem would go away.

Six years before action was taken.

May, 1533 Archbishop of Canterbury, declared Henry's marriage null and void and declared him free
to marry Anne Boleyn.

Clement excommunicated Henry, Anne, and Archbishop.

                  PAUL IV May 23, 1555 - August 18, 1559

At heart a reformer, but reform on Paul's terms.

He hated Spanish. Italians hated him even though he was Italian. When he died residents of Rome
toppled and disfigured his statue

Paul did not reconvene Council of Trent.

Seemed to mistrust many bishops and fear any type of council. He was pope. We do it his way.

Paul was obsessed with rooting out heresy.

Beefed up Roman Inquisition, established Index of Forbidden Books.

                                   PIUS V 1559-65

                           THE COUNCIL OF TRENT

Trent lasted 18 years over period of five separate popes.

Three separate sessions of the council.

At times more political struggle than religious council.

Frequently interrupted by war.

Kings or emperors would not permit “their” bishops to attend.

Initially the council had three aims:

    settlement of the religious quarrel

    reform of the church

    preparation of a military expedition against the Turks.

Protestants came to the second session of the council.

Negotiations broke down

Could not agree on conditions of their admission

Negotiations broke down before beginning of third session.

Emperor and King of France push for a completely new council. Could not accept legitimacy of first
2 sessions. Start over!

Council mandated reform of church in regard to clergy

Set up structures for education of clergy and people.

First council to do so.

                                    PAUL V 1605-21

Galileo a difficult issue for Paul V. Claimed sun was center of universe other planets
revolved around the sun. Conflicted with biblical account of creation

Presided as pope over the beginning of "The Thirty Years War". War started out as a
Protestant/Catholic struggle.

In middle of Cardinal Richelieu (Catholic) combined forces with Sweden (Protestant)
because economically and politically union was expedient.

        INNOCENT X September 15, 1644 - January 7, 1655

Thirty Years War ended during Innocent's papacy.

He condemned terms of treaty and refused to accept them.

In his view they gave too many concessions to the Protestants. Treaty granted freedom of
worship to Catholics, Lutherans, Calvinists. Innocent objected because gave head of state
right to determine religion of state.

Also gave head of state right to evict anyone who refused to follow that religion.

More distasteful allowed Protestants to keep much of property and buildings Protestants
seized from the church.

                 ALEXANDER VII April 7, 1655 - May 22, 1667

France angry because Alexander sided with France at peace conference of Munster

France seized land at Avignon, was papal land for 300 years.

Jansenism still a problem in France.

Internal struggles in Poland weakened ability to resist Turks.

In England, Cromwell persecuting Catholics taking church lands. Germany trying to recover
from ravages of the Thirty Years War. Spain and Portugal were continuing to quarrel.

Alexander helpless to do anything about any of problems.

Christina, daughter successor of Protestant king of Sweden, Gustavus Adolphus, converted
to Catholicism moved to Rome.

Could have been good for Sweden returning to Catholic Church. She proved to be very
eccentric.

In Rome she dressed in masculine clothes and lived with two cardinals as she maintained
her royal court.

Alexander turned attention to problems could affect some way. He beautified Saint Peter's
Basilica, other Vatican buildings.

He increased missionary activity in the foreign missions.

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