Digital Continent Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul 2016 | Page 74

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pope never failed in his duty to remind Henry of his obligation and accountability to God with
regard to the salvation of souls.
Several weeks before that ultimatum was issued, the pope wrote: “I am prepared by their
advice and with the blessing of Christ to receive you into the bosom of the Holy Roman Church
as lord, as brother, and as son … asking of you only that you do not scorn to hear my warnings
as to your salvation and that you do not refuse to pay due honor and glory to your creator.”143
On the eve of the break between monarchy and papacy Pope Gregory VII specifically
emphasized his role as the king’s moral judge. There is no claim to superior temporal authority,
only a reminder of obedience that would serve to mend the growing rift and properly align the
relationship between the two. The possibility of forgiveness was again extended.
Henry was unwilling to accept such admonishment and within weeks addressed letters to
the Romans and to Gregory VII that demanded his resignation and used his former name;
Hildebrand. The Diet of Worms, on the twenty-fourth of January 1076, loyal to its king, made
accusations of an irregular papal election and questionable ethics. Two archbishops and most of
the German episcopate rescinded their obedience to the pope. As the weeks progressed, Henry
labeled the pope “false monk”. Bolstered by his recent victory over the Saxons and confident
that Northern Italian bishops supported his cause, Henry’s faith in his concept of kingship fed his
hunger for power and failed to foresee the reaction of his adversary.
Judgment

143

Ibid., 84.