For the first few centuries of its existence, the Roman Catholic Papacy lived in quiet servitude to the Roman Empire yielding its will to the emperor. Primarily this was because he appointed them, thus assuring loyalty and peace between the church and the government. As time passed, the Empire gave more and more ground to the Papacy, allowing it such rights as the election of its own clergy and some control over territory. The election of bishops, Christian rulers placed in control of regions, was still controlled by the Emperor.
April of the year 1059, the Pope Nicholas II, reigning from 1059-1061, wrote ten declarations drastically changing the method of papal elections as well as giving himself, the pope, increased power. Within the first declaration, Nicholas II states, “On the death of a pontiff of the universal Roman Church, first, the cardinal bishops, with the most diligent consideration, shall elect a successor.” Known as The Papal Election Decree, this document is the first substantial piece of fuel for the blazing controversy.
Pope Gregory VII, leader of the Reform Catholics and Pope during the heat of the investiture controversy, wrote the Dictus Pape in 1075. In a way, its 27 declarations were a formal challenge to Henry IV, the current Emperor of Rome. In his Dictus Pape, he openly declares, “That he [the pope] alone has the power to depose and reinstate bishops.”
