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How did the Catholic Church become corrupt?
If there was one thing that made the Catholic Church corrupt to its core, for centuries to come, it was the creation of the document known as the Donation of Constantine. The Donation of Constantine was an eighth-century forgery purporting to be from Emperor Constantine in the fourth century, bestowing huge ecclesiastical and political authority upon Pope Sylvester and his successors. Pope Stephen II took his document to Pepin, king of the Franks, in 755, asking for help so that lands then held by the Lombards be "restored" to St. Peter himself, because four centuries earlier Constantine had granted them to Sylvester. In the grand scheme of things, this reflects on Stephen and his forger, probably a papal official called Christophorous, not on the Church as a whole, and there is no suggestion that subsequent popes actually knew the Donation to be a forgery.The Donation of Constantine changed the papacy, making it a prize to be fought over or bought, and therefore changed the Church itself. The Papal States won by Stephen and subsequently consolidated and expanded, helped make the pope the richest man in Europe. During long periods of the Middle Ages, simony, murder and corruption became common currency at the highest levels of the Catholic Church. Popes who bought their way into office did not stop with living in incredible luxury, but openly kept concubines or mistresses, and provided for the 'nephews' who resulted from these unions, often promoting them to the positions of bishop or cardinal while still in their teens.
What were the political effects of the crusades?
The Crusades led to the increased power of European monarchs and the Catholic Church, as well as the establishment of new trade routes and cultural exchanges between the East and West. However, they also resulted in religious tensions, persecution of non-Christians, and the weakening of Byzantine Empire.
How did the corruption of the Catholic Church lead to the protestant reform?
Another Answer from our community:The question, as asked, makes little sense. The "Reformation" - really the revolt - was the abuse of the Catholic Church leading many souls away from the only Church that Our Blessed Lord established for their salvation.
What practice was corrupt in the Catholic church during the Renaissance?
There have always been individuals in the Church who have been corrupt as every single individual who ever lived, saving Our Blessed Lord, and His Mother, have been sinners. The Church, however, is the Body of Christ, and Our Blessed Lord promised the Holy Spirit to guide Her until the end of the world. The Catholic Church is incapable of being corrupt, although individuals within her, including Popes, may be. To say that the Church was corrupt is to say that Our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ, was corrupt, which is nonsense. The vast majority of corrupt individuals during the Renaissance was neither more nor less than at any other time in history, it has just gotten a lot more press because heretics used corrupt individuals as an excuse to leave the Church and start their own religions. The Catholic Church, however, was never corrupt, and could never be.
When did it become unacceptable for popes to marry?
The expectation for popes to remain celibate and refrain from marriage became more pronounced in the 11th century, particularly with the reforms of Pope Gregory VII in the late 1000s. This was part of a broader movement to enforce clerical celibacy and address issues of corruption and nepotism within the Church. By the 12th century, celibacy was firmly established as a requirement for the clergy, including popes, solidifying the notion that popes should not marry.
What were the popes' names before they became popes?
The list is too large to publish here so click here for where you can find a list of all the popes and their birth names.
What are the ages of previous popes?
There have been 266 popes. For a complete list along with their ages when they became pope and when they died or left office, click on this link.
How old was the Pope when he became priest?
There have been 266 popes. Please specify one of them.
Did the catholic Church become so politically powerful?
Through bribery and corruption. Many of the Popes throughout the history were corrupt and manipulated the affairs of countries.
How were the popes in medieval times treated?
Popes in medieval times were treated extremely well. They lived in luxury and were essentially the rulers of Rome. Often, popes became incredibly wealthy, and even had secret lovers or fathered children while they were Pope.
How many popes were not celibate?
A:As popes have for many centuries been required to be celibate, many sexually active popes would not have made their sexual status known, so we could never say with any certainty how many popes were celibate. It is generally only because of the existence of illegitimate children or complaints of rape, that it was proven that a pope was not celibate. Popes who were relatively elderly at the time of their election would probably have been celibate, but in some other cases popes would have been celibate by moral choice. In modern times it is considered that almost all popes have been celibate in office.
How did Leo act after he became pope?
There have been 13 popes named Leo. Please specify one of them.
Is it true that there were several popes that sired illegitimate children?
Yes. There have been a few popes who were originally married who had children. When their wives died, they became priests and, eventually, popes. There have also been a few who were not very obedient to the vow of chastity or celibacy and had illegitimate children while in office.
How many popes have been kings?
No pope has been a king. However, since the Vatican became an independent country in 1929 he is considered as the monarch, or sole ruler, of the city/state.
How did the popes encourage the arts?
The popes encouraged the arts by acting as a patron to promising artists and commissioning them to produce works of art for the Church. Had it not been for the popes and their patronage, such names as Raphael and Michelangelo would probably be virtually unknown today. They became famous because of the great works they produced for the Church.
What do the popes do to elect a new pope?
Popes do not elect popes. Popes are elected by the cardinal electors.
