The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"TEMPORAL POWER OF THE POPES. 167calculated to bind the Roman people more stronglyto the Popes, and to alienate them from those whowere their nominal rulers.In the early part of the eighth century, LeoIsauricus, one of the successors of Constantine in theimperial throne, not content with his civil authority,endeavored, like Henry VIII., to usurp spiritualjurisdiction, LXid, like the same English monarch,sought to rob the people of their time-honored sacredtraditions. A civil ruler dabbling in religion is asreprehensible as a clergyman dabbling in politics.Both render themselves odious as well as ridiculous.The Emperor commanded all paintings of ourSaviour and His saints to be removed from thechurches on the assumption that such an exhibitionwas an act of idolatry. Pope GregoryII. wrote tothe Emperor an energetic remonstrance, remindinghim that dogmas of faith are to be interpreted bythe Pontiffs of the Church and not by emperors,"and begging him to spare the sacred paintings. Butthe Popes remonstrance and entreaties were in vain.This conduct of the Emperor tended to widen stillmore the breach between himself and the Romanpeople.Soon after, an event occurred which abolishedforever the authority of the Byzantine Emperors inItaly, and established on a sure and lasting basis thetemporal sovereignty of the Popes.In 754, Astolphus, King of the Lombards, invadedItaly, capturing some Italian cities, and threateningto advance on Rome.