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Medieval Europe

Papal Reform

Henry III of Germany travelled to Rome in 1046 to receive coronation as emperor. What he found there was three rivals, all claiming to have been elected pope. Henry tried to sort the matter out but was unable to and finally deposed all three and installed his cousin as Leo IX.

Leo IX (1049-1054) had three important assistants: Hildebrand, who would himself become pope; Humbert from Lotharingia, who became the leading theoretician of the reform movement; and Peter Damian, an Italian monk who was a fiery preacher and strict ascetic. With these and other men, all deeply influenced by the Cluniac movement, Leo set about trying to reform the Church.

Among the worst of the abuses were clerical marriage (that is, priests taking wives either in open or in secret) and simony (the buying of church offices). Leo held a series of synods, travelling throughout Europe to spread the word and to enforce reforms himself. He held councils at major centers to publicize his reforms. He sat in judgment on accused clerics, or summoned them to Rome for further hearings.