Chhi 301 Paper 2
PAPER 2
Submitted to: Dr. Nickens
Liberty University Online
Lynchburg, VA
by
Richard M. Shouse
June 17, 2013
Introduction:
In response to the how and why the papacy in Rome became the center of power as it did. Shortly after
the Fall of the Roman Empire there was a fight for power between several barbarian tribes like the
Ostrogoth’s, Goths, Visigoths, Vandals, Saxons, Huns, Franks, Lombard’s, Burundians, and others. The
two major tribes were the Ostrogoth’s and the Lombard’s where power shifted several times, And the
only infrastructure was the Christian church, so in one sense, the church took over after the fall of
Rome. It was this shift of power that lead to the power being but into the hands of the Church and
would soon lead to the Papacy. The rise of the Papacy came to power between the 6th and 9th
Century.
The administration of the papal government had charitable, financial, and archival branches.
Rome was divided into seven regions, each with a regional deacon who oversaw charitable
distributions of food and money to the poor, to orphans and widows, to consecrated virgins, and to
pilgrims. The seven regional deacons also came to be called cardinals. As secular Roman
administration diminished, the charitable functions of the papacy grew in scope and significance and
made the popes the great patrons of the local populace. Religious life in Rome, as in other cities,
centered on the bishop. Rome's size and large population necessitated considerable delegation [1].
It is believed that the start of the Papacy was from the time of Saint Peter all the way to present day. I
believe when talking about the Papacy it is important to start with Pope Gregory I also known as
“Gregory the Great” while serving as Pope from 590 A.D to 604 A.D. Pope Gregory I Was previously
a government official who sold everything he owned in order to become a Benedictine monk. Who
become Pope after the death of Pelagius
Submitted to: Dr. Nickens
Liberty University Online
Lynchburg, VA
by
Richard M. Shouse
June 17, 2013
Introduction:
In response to the how and why the papacy in Rome became the center of power as it did. Shortly after
the Fall of the Roman Empire there was a fight for power between several barbarian tribes like the
Ostrogoth’s, Goths, Visigoths, Vandals, Saxons, Huns, Franks, Lombard’s, Burundians, and others. The
two major tribes were the Ostrogoth’s and the Lombard’s where power shifted several times, And the
only infrastructure was the Christian church, so in one sense, the church took over after the fall of
Rome. It was this shift of power that lead to the power being but into the hands of the Church and
would soon lead to the Papacy. The rise of the Papacy came to power between the 6th and 9th
Century.
The administration of the papal government had charitable, financial, and archival branches.
Rome was divided into seven regions, each with a regional deacon who oversaw charitable
distributions of food and money to the poor, to orphans and widows, to consecrated virgins, and to
pilgrims. The seven regional deacons also came to be called cardinals. As secular Roman
administration diminished, the charitable functions of the papacy grew in scope and significance and
made the popes the great patrons of the local populace. Religious life in Rome, as in other cities,
centered on the bishop. Rome's size and large population necessitated considerable delegation [1].
It is believed that the start of the Papacy was from the time of Saint Peter all the way to present day. I
believe when talking about the Papacy it is important to start with Pope Gregory I also known as
“Gregory the Great” while serving as Pope from 590 A.D to 604 A.D. Pope Gregory I Was previously
a government official who sold everything he owned in order to become a Benedictine monk. Who
become Pope after the death of Pelagius