Gregory VII: Dictatus Papae
ca. 1075
These 27 Dictatus Papae were
included in Pope's register in the
year 1075. Some argue that it was written by Pope Gregory VII (pontificate
from 1073-1085) himself, others argues that it had a much later different
origin. In 1087 Cardinal Deusdedit published a collection of the laws of the
Church which he drew from many sources. The
Dictatus agrees so clearly and closely with this collection that some have
argued the Dictatus must have been based on it. There is little doubt
that the principles below do express the pope's
own thoughts about papal authority.
Another translation by G.A. Loud
The 27 Dictates of the Pope
•That the Roman
church was founded by God alone.
•That the Roman
pontiff alone can with right be called universal.
•That he alone can
depose or reinstate bishops.
•That, in a
council his legate, even if a lower grade, is above all bishops, and can pass
sentence of deposition against them.
•That the pope may
depose the absent.
•That,
among other things, we ought not to remain in the same house with those
excommunicated by him.
•That for him
alone is it lawful, according to the needs of the time, to make new laws, to
assemble together new congregations, to make an abbey of a canonry; and, on the
other hand, to divide a rich bishopric and unite the poor ones.
•That he alone may
use the imperial insignia.
•That of the pope
alone all princes shall kiss the feet.
•That his name
alone shall be spoken in the churches.
•That this is the
only name in the world.
•That it may be
permitted to him to depose emperors.
•That he may be
permitted to transfer bishops if need be.
•That he has power
to ordain a clerk of any church he may wish.
•That he who is
ordained by him may preside over another church, but may not hold a subordinate
position; and that such a one may not receive a higher grade from any bishop.
•That no synod
shall be called a general one without his order.
•That no chapter
and no book shall be considered canonical without his authority.
•That a sentence
passed by him may be retracted by no one; and that he himself, alone of all, may
retract it.
•That he himself
may be judged by no one.
•That no one shall
dare to condemn one who appeals to the apostolic chair.
•That to the
latter should be referred the more important cases of every church.
•That the Roman
church has never erred; nor will it err to all eternity, the Scripture bearing
witness.
•That the Roman
pontiff, if he have been canonically ordained, is undoubtedly made a saint by
the merits of St. Peter; St. Ennodius, bishop of Pavia, bearing witness, and
many holy fathers agreeing with him. As is contained in the decrees of St.
Symmachus the pope.
•That, by his
command and consent, it may be lawful for subordinates to bring accusations.
•That he may
depose and reinstate bishops without assembling a synod.
•That he who is
not at peace with the Roman church shall not be considered catholic.
•That he may
absolve subjects from their fealty to wicked men.
translated in Ernest F. Henderson, Select Historical Documents of the Middle
Ages, (London: George Bell and Sons, 1910), pp. 366-367
Another Translation by Brian Pullan