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Gregory VII was the first pope in several centuries to enforce the Church's ancient policy of celibacy for the Catholic clergy, although it appears that he himself had a mistress, the countess Matilda. In 1074, Gregory issued an edict ordering his priests to abandon their wives.
Gregory attacked the widespread practice of simony.


Gregory VII was the first pope to depose a crowned ruler, Emperor Henry IV (1056 ¬1105/06). With this revolutionary act, Gregory transformed the role of the papacy, subordinating all secular governments to the Church. Today, we would call this an improper achievement, but democracy was not yet well understood in Western Europe.

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9y ago

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