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Medieval Europe

Papacy in the Late Empire

Christianity was finally tolerated under Constantine, with the church enjoying most favored status although other religions were also tolerated. Rome benefitted from the emperor's attentions.

The Lateran palace was handed over in 312 to bishop Miltiades as an episcopal residence. The first of the churches was erected over St. Peter's shrine in the Vatican by Constantine. The way was cleared, but there were no remarkable popes for many years. In fact, it took a crisis before one emerged.

Leo I (440-461)

Leo was a Roman noble who entered the Church and eventually became Bishop of Rome. It was he who bargained with the Huns in 453 and averted a sack.

Leo was the first to state the Petrine doctrine outright, saying that he was the "heir" of St. Peter and that Christ had appointed Peter as head of his church. He said that all bishops were heirs to the apostles (this was general belief at the time), and that Peter was the chief of the apostles. The Bishop of Rome was therefore the chief of all bishops.

The Papacy hit a low point in 6th century. For example, Pope Silverius (536-37) was deposed by force and died in a penal colony. audio gif Vigilius (537-55) was harried and imprisoned by the emperor, while audio gifPelagius I (556-561) was unworthy but was forced on the Church by Justinian.

Still, as weak as the popes of this time were as individuals, their theoretical position could not deteriorate. Papal claims waited only on a strong leader to make them good.