Why was the papacy of Innocent III so important for Europe?

Answer 1

A:

The Fourth Lateran Council of 1215, summoned by Innocent III, ordered condemned heretics to be delivered to their secular rulers for punishment and specified that all secular authorities of whatever office were to be admonished and if necessary compelled, as they wished to be numbered among the faithful, to swear that they would strive to exterminate in the territories under their jurisdiction all heretics pointed out by the church. The popes who succeeded Innocent III also required these laws to be enforced by the magistrates in the territories in Italy subject to papal rule. By the first half of the thirteenth century the death penalty was being established throughout Europe as the common remedy for heresy, with the concurrence of the Church. The Inquisition, called the "Holy Office," was instituted by Pope Innocent III.

Innocent III also extended the system of indulgences, offering them to all those who helped the crusade with money or advice. The indulgence became a familiar aspect of Christian life, with remission of sins promised to an increasing number of people in return for payments, or visits to holy places or churches.

Innocent is regarded by Roman Catholics as one of the greatest popes of the Middle Ages, and by others as one of the most harmful men ever to have lived. Both claims have merit, and both may well be true.

Answer 2

Papal power reached its greatest height during his reign.

Answer

Pope Innocent III is regarded by Roman Catholics as one of the greatest popes of the Middle Ages, and by others as one of the most harmful men ever to have lived. Both claims have merit, and both may well be true. He resolutely held exalted views of papal authority.

Innocent III is the first pope to divest himself of the title 'vicar of Peter' and appropriate the title 'vicar of Christ'. Believing himself to be the successor of St Peter, he said, "We are not his vicar or the vicar of any man or Apostle. We are the vicar of Jesus Christ himself."

The Inquisition, called the 'Holy Office', was instituted by Pope Innocent III. Innocent stated that a monk who had persuaded his mistress to have an abortion was not guilty of murder as long as the foetus had not yet been animated (animation took place 40 days after conception for a boy, 80 for a girl). Roman Canon law maintained the distinction between a fetus animatus and a fetus inanimatusuntil 1869 when it was suddenly abandoned.

The Fourth Lateran Council of 1215, summoned by Innocent III, ordered condemned heretics to be delivered to their secular rulers for punishment and specified that all secular authorities of whatever office were to be admonished and if necessary compelled, as they wished to be numbered among the faithful, to swear that they would strive to exterminate in the territories under their jurisdiction all heretics pointed out by the church.

Answer 3

Pope innocent III was important because he reformed the roman Curia, reastablished and expanded the pope's auhoroty over the papal states worked tirelessly to launch crusades to recover the Holy Land.