Digital Continent Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul 2016 | Page 88

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Abbot Hugo of Cluny, “I find scarce any bishops who live or who were ordained according to
law and who govern Christian people in the love of Christ and not for worldly ambition. And
among secular princes I find none who prefer the honor of God to their own or righteousness to
gain.”175 As the Vicar of Christ he was obligated to make correction where needed.
Based on Christ’s prayer for Peter and the Church that promised freedom from error. In
his divine mission he held the right to depose bishops and secular rulers. For many years he
attempted to compile examples of Scripture, Tradition, decrees, and rulings of councils regarding
the prerogatives and privileges of the pope and the Roman Church.176 Although the date is
uncertain, sometime around the year of 1075 a list of chapter headings or topics was inserted into
the papal register between documents dated March third and March fifth that became known as
the dictatus papae. It is assumed that this list of twenty-seven assertions on papal authority is an
accurate summation of Gregory’s conception of the papacy. Included in the list are the following
examples that enumerate powers which directly applied to and defended his position against
Henry IV: that the Roman Church was founded by God alone, that only the Roman Pontiff can
depose or restore bishops, that he may depose emperors, that in order for a synod to be
considered general it must have the pope’s mandate, that he may be judged by no one, that major
cases of any church are to be referred to him, that the Roman Church has never nor will it ever
err, that the Roman Pontiff is made holy by the merits of blessed Peter, and that he may absolve
subjects from fealty to unjust men.177 On each and every one of the points listed in dictatus
papae, Gregory firmly asserted there was precedent.

175

Emerton, 64-65.

176

Blumenthal, The Investiture Controversy, 117-18.

177

Miller, 81-83.