The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 1

III. Assumptions Expressed in “Dictatus Papae”

Gregory’s conception of the nature of papal power and of the Papacy’s destined place in the world is expressed in the Dictatus Papae, or the Dictates of Hildebrand. This was based on the premise that if the temporal states were too weak to be capable of rendering justice, the church should assume the management of civil government, with the right to coerce or to depose sovereigns. ⁶ These pretentious points were not written by Gregory himself, as their date has been fairly well established as 1087, but in spite of the uncertainty of their authorship, they represent Pope Gregory’s views as accurately as if they were written by his own hand. Here are some of the amazing claims and assumptions: PFF1 669.2

“1. That the Roman Church was founded by God alone. PFF1 669.3

“2. That the Roman bishop alone is properly called universal. PFF1 669.4

“3. That he alone has the power to depose bishops and reinstate them. PFF1 669.5

“4. That his legate, though of inferior rank, takes precedence of all bishops in council, and may give sentence of deposition against them. PFF1 669.6

“5. That the Pope has the power to depose [bishops] in their absence. PFF1 670.1

“6. That we should not even stay in the same house with those who are excommunicated by him.... PFF1 670.2

“8. That he alone may use the imperial insignia. PFF1 670.3

“9. That the Pope is the only person whose feet are kissed by all princes.... PFF1 670.4

“11. That the name which he bears belongs to him alone. PFF1 670.5

“12. That he has the power to depose emperors. PFF1 670.6

“13. That he may if necessity require, transfer bishops from one see to another.... PFF1 670.7

“16. That no general synod may be called without his consent. PFF1 670.8

“17. That no action of a synod, and no book, may be considered canonical without his authority. PFF1 670.9

“18. That his decree can be annulled by no one, and that he alone may annul the decrees of any one. PFF1 670.10

“19. That he can be judged by no man. PFF1 670.11

“20. That no one shall dare to condemn a person who appeals to the apostolic See.... PFF1 670.12

“22. That the Roman Church has never erred, nor ever, by the testimony of Scripture, shall err, to all eternity.... PFF1 670.13

“26. That no one can be considered Catholic who does not agree with the Roman Church. PFF1 670.14

“27. That he [the Pope] has the power to absolve the subjects of unjust rulers from their oath of fidelity.” ⁷ PFF1 670.15