- Innocent III, Letters, and King John.
Madigan’s chapter details the papacy’s consolidation of power during the reign of Innocent III and the growth of church bureaucracy (289-295). Briefly summarize the accomplishments of Innocent, the papacy’s “instruments of power,” and the effects that these developments had on Christianity. Thereafter, consider the letters of Innocent and John’s letter to Innocent.
Innocent through his pursuit of papal supremacy, eventually became the leader of Christendom. He saw himself as a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ and felt it was his responsibility to spread Christianity. Innocent argued that the Roman church had authority in temporal and spiritual matters, and as the Vicar of Christ, he too possessed that authority. Madigan suggests that Innocent dreamed to “seize traditional local and episcopal power” (291). The papacy was beginning to move toward the idea of consolidated power. It was now mandated that the pope had complete oversight over canon law and that judgments in matters of the state fell under their jurisdiction, which created an even greater shift in the balance of power. The papacy would exercise their authority in important state cases, and respond with letters outlining their law and decision. These letters from the pope were evidence of the desire to control the people; Innocent III was instrumental in writing nearly 280 papal decretals. This further shows how involved the papacy was in not only temporal matters, but establishing the laws that Christendom was expected to abide by. The outreaching authority of the papacy would ultimately change the way traditional church was defined; this led to a change in the ideals of the church, specifically institutions were straying away from the apostolic way of life. The Church itself would become more like a business, rather than a place to seek spiritual guidance.
a. Consider the topics and judgments found in Innocent’s letters. What do they say about the pope’s daily life and his geographical “reach”? What assumptions do they make about the pope’s accessibility? How do the letters illustrate the ideals of papal monarchy asserted by earlier popes (e.g., Leo the Great, Gregory the Great, Gregory VII)? In what ways might these letters reveal an effective or ineffective use of the pope’s time?
The letters from Innocent III are concerning rather trivial issues that others feel need to be resolved. The letters are from different geographical locations, which would suggest that papal authority has no limitations and the office of the pope is accessible to anyone who requests guidance or needs resolution. I feel that these letters share a commonality with earlier popes, because it’s evident that Innocent III wants to help his fellow man and in this instance takes on a persona that he’s approachable. These letters show a rather ineffective use of the pope’s time because the letters address trivial issues that really have no bearing on the outward trajectory of Christendom, and are matters that could be easily dealt with by the local diocese. This obviously was not the case because Innocent III was the “Vicar of Christ” and the father to his people; therefore he needed to attend to all matters, not just those with high importance.
b. Madigan notes that in the high middle ages, popes were actively involved in worldly affairs. How does Innocent’s conflict with John reflect this secular emphasis? What is John’s response to the pressures placed upon him by the pope, and what do you think his decision says about papal authority in the early thirteenth century?
The conflict with King John shows the secular interests of Innocent III because through this conflict, he was trying to extend the territorial reach of the Roman Catholic Church, he was also lining the coffers of the Church through the tribute payment from King John. This further enforces the idea that there was a movement away from the apostolic life that was once the foundation of Christendom. In response to the letter from Innocent III, King John affirms his kingdoms allegiance to God, Saint Peter, and the Roman Church. Additionally, this affirmation is marked with a golden seal, and a tribute payment of one-thousand marks is paid out to the Church. There was also an arrangement that the Church would be paid annual payments from the kingdom of King John. It seems that King John surrendered his kingdom without putting up much of a struggle, which would suggest that the papacy had firm control over matters of the state and could easily influence others to align with their ideals and beliefs.