Political influence of the Roman Catholic Church

The Pope’s power, hence the power of the Catholic Church, spreads not only on religious life of people but on their secular life as well. Today the Pope exercises also the supreme legislative, executive and judicial power over the State of Vatican City and the Holy See, the governing body of the Roman Catholic Church. Such present position of the Pope became possible due to the long history of the popedom, during which the Roman Catholic Church acquired dual authority. It began in the fifth century that bishops started more and more directing civil affaires in cities of the Roman Empire. The Pope himself gradually began to play more significant role in political sphere. In 754 the Frankish leader Pippin the Younger gave the Pope a parcel of land which formed the main part of the Papal States. Since 800 the Pope got the prerogative to crown the Emperor or any monarch. From this point onwards the Pope was not only the spiritual head of the Church and the territorial ruler but also a political leader. Such Popes of the Renaissance as Pope Alexander VI and Pope Julius II were especially active politicians. In order to highlight immense political influence of the Roman Catholic Church it’s necessary to cite several examples of the Pope’s decisions. Throughout several centuries the Pope was the author of bulls which had great aftermath. Thus due to such bulls in 1155 Henry II of England was authorized to invade Ireland, in 1494 the Treaty of Tordesillas which divided the world into regions of Portuguese and Spanish rule was signed, in 1570 Elizabeth I of England was excommunicated and at last in 1582 the Gregorian calendar was established.

Today the brightest example of dual authority of Roman Catholic Church is the Vatican City, where the smallest independent nation in the world lives. The Pope, Benedict XVI, is the Head of the Vatican City, which appeared in 1929 as a part of the mentioned above Papal States. In modern Europe it is the only case of absolute non-hereditary elected monarchy. Concerning Vatican City the Pope’s official title is Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City. The Pope is chosen for a life term by cardinals under the age of 80. All his main subject governmental officials also belong to the Catholic Church. They are Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone; the President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and the Governor of Vatican City, Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo.

The Governor fulfils the same duties as a mayor and is occupied with questions concerning the local security, the state’s territory, except of foreign relations. It is the Holy See that is responsible for foreign policy and receives and sends diplomatic representatives. Legislative power is exercised by the cardinals, members of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State who are appointed by the Pope every five years. The legal system of the state is based on the canon law. The Vatican

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