Condition of RCC c.1500-17: Institutional Organisation Flashcards
Why did RCC rely heavily on secular rules?
Depended on their secular authority to impose church will - its only sanction was excommunication
Created many problems out of conflict with the rulers’ self-interest
How had the nature of the papacy changed by c.1500?
Give 3 points
Gained more secular power in early 1400s due to increased involvement with Italian city-states and Papal States expansion
Took administrative role in Papal States and military involvement too - Julian II
Came to be dominated by powerful Italian families - increased nepotism e.g. Medici and Borgia, 4 families won Papacy combined 9 times
Who were the Curia?
Constituted the administrative offices of the Vatican and was at the top of clerical hierarchy
What patronage powers did the Pope have?
Could appoint clerics to prestigious positions - bishops, archbishops, cardinals
Thought secular powers maintained the right to nominate clergy members by special agreement
What did the role of bishop entail?
Annual synods were to be summoned to supervise their diocese - archbishops meant to summon triennial synods, but both were rare
What was the Sacra Rota?
Supreme court for ecclesiastical matters and sovereign law court for Papal States
What duties did local ecclesiastical courts undertake?
Give 3 points
Approved wills
Administered church dispensations
Regulated payment of tithes - resented particularly by wealthy urban families
What key powers did church courts hold?
Excommunication and suspension
What influence did secular powers hold over ecclesiastical appointments?
How did they gain this control?
Could nominate clergy members to be approved by the Pope by special agreement - could promote their servants to key offices exploit RCC financial resources
Control was exchanged by 15th century Popes e.g. Eugenius IV to buy loyalty from European rules in opposition to conciliarism
How did RCC gain influence in Late Middle Ages?
Black Death and other plagues meant demand for salvation increased
What was the justification behind papal authority?
Apostolic succession
What was the 1417 Council Constance?
Largely resolved the Great Schism (1378-1417) when rival popes in Avignon and Rome both claimed spiritual ascendancy - significantly damaged papal reputation
Ruled a GCC was to be called every 10 years, with each new elected pope had to swear on GCC convention within 3 years - essentially ignored as every Pope proceeded to break this pledge of office
What concept undermined papal authority?
Conciliarism - claimed church councils held more authority than popes
