ASIA ANTIOCH SEMINARY

Master of Divinity – 1 (2nd Semester, 2023)

Paper Presentation
Subject: History of Christianity

Topic : Rise and fall of Papacy

Presenter : Mr. Amos Manglal
Lecturer : Sir Khumro Jingro
Date : 1st March, 2023

Introduction
One of the most famous events happen in the era of the Middle Ages was the rise of
the Papacy. The power of Papacy was popular in that period. To know more the detail
information about the rise and fall of Papacy, we can see here the record in this document or
files.
1. Origin of Middle Ages

The name Middle Ages were originated by Christopher Kellner (1634-80) in a

handbook published about 1669. He thought of three divisions in the history of the West. For
him the ancient history ended at 325. Moreover, he thought the modern history had begun in
the year 1453 AD when the fall of Constantinople brought a flood of Greek Scholars and
Manuscripts to the West. He characterized the year between these two dates as the Middle
Ages because of their apparent sterility and the absence of classically influence. Since that
time historian used the term Middle Ages as a convenient designation for that era. However
only the first five centuries of that era from about 500 to 1000 may be the protestant historian
considered the Middle Ages the valley of shadow, in which the pure Church of the Ancient
era of church history was corrupted.1

2. Meaning of Papacy

Papacy is the office and jurisdiction of the bishop of Rome, the pope (Latin papa,
from Greek papas, “father”), who presides over the Holy See (the central Government) of the
Roman Catholic Church. The term “papacy” is also referring to the office held by the Pope,
the head of the Roman Catholic Church. According to All Nation English Dictionary, the
meaning of papacy is given in three ways.

1. The position and authority of the Pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church.
1
Earle E. Cairns, Christianity through the Centuries (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996), 160.

1
2. The term of Pope’s time in office.
3. The system of Church government by the Popes.2

3. Historical Bases of the papacy

The Bishop of Rome, as the office developed gradually gained supremacy in the west
because Rome was the only apostolic foundation in that vast region, unique also in the fact
that Paul and Peter and, as it was alleged; John were all involve in that founding.3

4. The Rise of Papacy

There were many reasons why the papacy grew in strength after the fall of Rome and
remained in power until the Reformation. There were two primary reasons. The first reason
was that with the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 410 A.D, the Church in Rome had to
take on increasing power to hold the region together in politics and economy.4 Even after
things stabilized to a point, the church had established so much power, wealth, land and
prestige that it held its position despite moral decline and poor theological decisions. The
second and primary reason that grew from the first was the efforts of Damasus I to redefine
the role of Roman church as “the apostolic see” and the representation of Christ on earth.5
The council in Rome in 382 A.D. defined the Roman Church as having setup by the Apostle
Peter and Paul.6 At the same time the Roman church was situated in the centre of events of
that time in history, giving it ample to grow in strength and power.7
Rome was sacked by Alaric in the year 410 A. D.8 It was just short of one hundred
years before the incredible movement in history that Christianity became legitimize by
Emperor Constantine in 313 A.D.9 In 313 A.D, at least in the western half of the Roman
empire, Christianity became Imperial Christianity, very closely married to political powers of
that times. Emperor Constantine supported Christianity and legalized throughout the
empire.10
The church became the only stabilizing force in the West after the fall of Rome in 410
A.D. Although many of the barbarian invaders were Arian Christians, they still respect the

2
Frank J. Coppa, https://www.britannica.com/topic/papacy (Accessed on 27th Feb. 2023).
3
Arthur Wilford Nagler, The Church in History (New York: Abingdon- Cokesbury Press, 1929), 286.

4
Ronald Herbert Bainton, The Horizon History of Christianity (New York: American Heritage Pub.co.,
1964), 129.
5
Walter Ullman, A History of the Papacy in the Middle Ages (London: Methuen, 1972), 10.
6
Ullman, A History of the Papacy in the Middle Ages…, 11.
7
Ullman, A History of the Papacy in the Middle Ages…, 12.
8
Ronald Herbert Bainton, The Horizon History of Christianity…, 129.
9
Ullman, A History of the Papacy in the Middle Ages…, 4.
10
Kathy L. McFarland, “The centered Power of Rome in the 6th – 9th Centuries” in Becker Bible study -
1 (2008), http:/guidedbiblestudies.com/history/Centered_Power_Rome.htm (Accessed on 25th Feb. 2023).

2
Bishop of Rome. In the entirety of the Roman empire there were five main locations of
church authority: Rome, Jerusalem, Alexandria, Antioch and Constantinople.11

4.1. Papacy in the Middle Ages

The history of this Middle Ages is largely the history of the church (The papacy) its
relation to the state and to the life of the times. The first Great Pope, Leo I (440-461), who
was practically the ruler of the West, the most powerful man in the rapidly decaying empire,
had set the Papacy upon firm foundations.12

Gregory- I who is usually called the Great was chosen as the Roman bishop in the
year 590. He was unblemished in character, honored for goodness severe self-denial; he was
a voluminous writer, his writing has much influence in his time, even though not very much
original, nor great scholar, he took a keen interest in the ritual and music of the Church, and
did a great deal to promote the Papacy. Sending out missionaries increase his authority that
he sends Augustine to England, sending out missionaries was not only for strengthening the
Roman authority but it nevertheless increased the influence of the Roman Church. He
focusses on purifying and strengthening the church, caring of the poor and spreading of the
Church.

However, the other factor which cause the rise of Papacy is that, in the West from
400-768 or from Charlemagne (768-814) to Otto- I (Rule from 936-973) there was no civil
government. Meantime here was no ruler who could give justice, peace during this era in the
West. The Bishop of Rome held a time-honored position with wide authority. Therefore, the
Pope was the only representative of Permanent government many years in all the Western
Europe. Due to all these reason and condition, the power of Papacy is inevitable (Certain)
grew throughout the West, to a lesser extent in other parts of the Church.13

5. Downfall of the Papacy

At the end of the 13th century and the beginning of the 14th century, Boniface became
the Pope, he strongly opposed the two kings Edward I of England and Philip of France. He
did not want them to impose taxes on clerics. Boniface’s opposition backfired, however. King
have become so powerful by the Late Middle Ages that they could assert their rule over
everyone within their borders. Boniface lost the battle thereafter. Moreover, another quarrel
11
McFarland, “The centered Power of Rome in the 6th – 9th Centuries” in Becker Bible study -1 2008,
(Accessed on 27th Feb. 2023).
12
Arthur Wilford Nagler, the Church in History…, 285.
13
F. Hrangkhuma, An Introduction to Church History (Bangalore: Theological Book Trust, 2002), 128.

3
with Philip the King captures him and kept him prison for three days. Due to this event, the
Medieval Papacy received and untreatable wound. The power that had ruled the world had
been put to shame and no one had lifted a hand to preserve or defend it.14

In 1302 CE Philip IV called a meeting of the three estates, or classes, of his kingdom:
nobles, clerics, and commoners. This meeting supported the king and condemned the pope,
showing how a representative institution could serve the interest of the king. The meeting
was the beginning of the Estates-General, the first representative body in France.15

After this humiliating defeat the papacy was in the hands of French kings. In 1309 the
Pope shifted his location to Avignon in France. Thus, for nearly seventy years the Pope lost
influence progressively and their prestige went down.16

9.1. The Great Schism

Thew Popes remained in Avignon from 1309 until 1378.Some European called it the
Babylonian Captivity, recalling the biblical story of the Jews who were taken from Israel to
works as slave for the Babylonians. Many Christian longed for the Pope to returned to Rome.
Instead, in 1378, they got two popes, one ruling from Avignon and the other from Rome. This
scandal called the Great Schism of rival popes. Again, the third pope was chosen in the
council of Pisa in 1409. The other two did not step down, and so three popes claimed to be
the head of the church. The Schism finally ended in 1417 with the Council of Constance. The
council disposed all three popes and elected Martin V, who made Rome his headquarter.17

The captivity was followed by the great schism. Pope Gregory XI returned Rome in
1377. After his death in 1378 the election of his successor, a rival Pope was set up by French
and stationed at Avignon. For thirty years there were two rival Popes, one at Rome, and the
other at Avignon. Division and strife spread through the European Church. As the combine

Cardinal called the council of Pisa in 1409, a new Pope was chosen. But the two existing
Popes was refused to resign, so for some year there were three popes.18

After five years the two popes were deposed, and the other one was persuaded to resign. The
schism was ended by the election of Martin V who was acknowledge by the whole church.19

14
F. Hrangkhuma, An Introduction to Church History…, 174-175.
15
“Decline of Papacy” http://www.lessonsite.com/ArchivePages/HistoryOfTheWorld/Lesson08/
DeclineofthePapacy.htm, (Accessed on 28th Feb. 2023).
16
http://www.lessonsite.com/ArchivePages/HistoryOfTheWorld/Lesson08/DeclineofthePapacy.htm,
(Accessed on 28th Feb. 2023).
17
F. Hrangkhuma, An Introduction to Church History…,175-176.
18
F. Hrangkhuma, An Introduction to Church History…,175.
19
F. Hrangkhuma, An Introduction to Church History…, 176.

4
9.2. Corruption of the Church

At this time the papacy was secularized, and change into a selfish tyranny whose role
was more and more unbearable. The pope of this time was generally of low morals. The
corruption of the popes was not a sudden development. It simply grew worse. The corruption
was from top to bottom. The cardinals, the bishops, and the clergy were almost all corrupt
and their corruption appear in many forms. The clergy became rulers rather than the servants,
self-seeking and avaricious, selfishness rules their live. Immorality was widespread,
Drunkenness, gluttony and uncleanness were increasingly in common, and another sin was
pluralism (holding more than one bishopric). Monasteries were gone down, even though there
were a few which were true to their vow.20

9.3. The neglect of the people

This is also one of the factors of the failures of the medieval church. The church’
neglect of the peoples committed to its charge. Bishops were usually neglected their duties;
priest were usually satisfied with performing at the prescribed times. A few of them preached,
and there was little pastoral visit or instruction. The town were increased, but the church
grievously failed to meet a new need. It did not provide churches and priests for the people of
many places. In the horrible filth of medieval towns, there was no more Christian care for the
poor peoples they live for their body or soul.21

Conclusion

The fall of the Roman Empire brings the rise of papacy. The rise of the Papacy took
control over the Eastern and the Western both in Political as well as religions. Many changes
took place; meantime, the Church was divided into two. Thereafter, the power of the Papacy
was decline. That shows that when there is no unity, there is no peace, when there is no peace
destruction follows it. One of the main reasons which cause the down fall of the Papacy was
that trying to be a ruler within the Church and holding the Leadership position.

20
F. Hrangkhuma, An Introduction to Church History…, 176 & 190.
21
F. Hrangkhuma, An Introduction to Church History…, 191.

5
Bibliography

Bainton, Ronald Herbert. The Horizon History of Christianity. New York: American Heritage

Pub.co., 1964.

Cairns, Eagle E. Christianity through the Centuries. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996.

Hrangkhuma, F. An Introduction to Church History. Bangalore: Theological Book Trust,

2002.

McFarland. “The centered Power of Rome in the 6th – 9th Centuries” in Becker Bible study -1

2008.

Nagler, Arthur Wilford. The Church in History. New York: Abingdon- Cokesbury Press,

1929.

Ullman, Walter. A History of the Papacy in the Middle Ages. London: Methuen, 1972.

Webliography

http://www.lessonsite.com/ArchivePages/HistoryOfTheWorld/Lesson08/DeclineofthePapacy
.htm.

Coppa, Frank J. https://www.britannica.com/topic/papacy.

http://www.lessonsite.com/ArchivePages/HistoryOfTheWorld/Lesson08/
DeclineofthePapacy.htm.

McFarland, Kathy L. “The centered Power of Rome in the 6th – 9th Centuries” in Becker Bible

study -1 (2008), http:/guidedbiblestudies.com/history/Centered_Power_Rome.htm