Doctrine/faith/ orthodoxy

Eradicate heresy

Organisational reform

Defend Catholicism

Catholic Unity

Membership / Followers

Reputation and prestige

Reforms

Foreign Policy

Relations with the Pope

Domestic Policies

Philip II

Control of the Church

Why were relations between the papacy and Philip so

difficult?

Ideally ?

•Catholic unity•Spain the strongest power united to

papacy defending Catholicism•Therefore strengthening the Catholic

Church, eradicating heresy, implementing the Tridentine decrees, a the head of a united Catholic alliance

Tensions ?

•From the beginning – excommunicated •Politics of Italy – Philip controlled Naples,

Sicily , Sardinia and Milan VS Pope ruler of papal states.

•Pope frequently tried to avoid domination by Spain by playing Spain off against the other great Catholic power France.

•Pope resented having to rely on Spain against heretic threats.

Tensions ?

•Philip’s control over the Church in Spain e.g. appointments, publishing papal bulls, implementation of tridentine decrees

•Used appointments as patronage•Lynch control of the church in Spain more

complete than any other monarchs in 16th Century

• ‘There is no Pope in Spain’.•Revenue from the church e.g. vacant

bishoprics

Tensions ?

•Maintained control over inquisition•Refused papal jurisdiction over

prosecutions over clergy e.g. Carranza affair

•Tridentine decrees double checked by Philip before implemented

Tensions ?

•Quarrels over foreign policy e.g. after Lepanto, excommunication of Elizabeth I, truce with Turks 1578

•Philip outraged by Pope Sixtus V supporting Henry VI’s 1593 conversion to Catholicism

•Philip interfered in Papal elections, even resorting to military and naval pressure (Parker)

•Pope overall feared a dominant Spain in Europe

Why did they maintain relations?•Spain Catholic•Philip devout•Pope needed Spanish strength•Philip needed support of papacy

spiritually, financially and strategically

Did Philip’s clashes with the papacy weaken the Catholic Church?

Overall strained relations prevented a sustained Catholic united front against the threat of heresy. Philip and the Pope realised that maintaining good relations had benefits, this in the end ensure that relations did not totally breakdown. However it is clear that the clashes damaged the church overall as it reduced how effectively it could combat the growth spread of Protestantism.

1 –Significantly damaged the

Church

1 0– Significantly strengthened the Church