Digital Continent Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul 2016 | Page 65

58

That is not to say that the
pope believed that he held
superior temporal authority over
the monarchy. The truth was
not so simple. He wrote in no
uncertain terms that the German
kingship was gained through the
election process and that he
himself had been present at and
participated in Henry IV’s
election, prior to his own election as pope. For this reason he refused to raise any other to the
royal office. Only election by the German princes could do so. When Rudolf the anti-king was
later elected, it was without Gregory VII’s counsel or interference.124 To Gregory VII, the
Christian king had particular duties. These included feeding the poor, protecting the widowed
and orphaned, and guarding the laws of peace. But above all he must have reverence for the
priesthood and be obedient to the See of Peter. Rome exercised direction and moral jurisdiction
over orthodox rulers in such matters because built into the design of Creation the order of
Christianity determined that the apostolic office and God should govern the royal. 125 Such
governance went beyond simple temporal authority.
Reverence for the priesthood and obedience to the Apostolic See was something that
Gregory described as exhibited by the greatest of rulers. When he defended his papal policy

124

Karl F. Morrison, “Canossa: A Revision,” Traditio 18, (1962): 136-37.

125

Ibid., 132-33.