How did the Catholic Church rule most Europe 100s of years ago?

Answer 1

Roman Catholic AnswerThe Catholic Church, at most, could be said to have rule a fair portion of Italy for hundreds of years for the simple reason that the Roman government fell and left no one in charge to provide for the upkeep of the sewers. Outside of the papal states, though, the Church never ruled most of Europe, or even large portions of it. However, since nearly all of the European Kings and Princes were Catholic, at least up until the 16th century, they were educated and brought up with Christian values, and rightly deferred to the Church in spiritual matters. But the Church never "ruled most of Europe for hundreds of years."