Gregory VII was one of the most profound popes of the medieval church, whose name entitles the 11th century movement known as the Gregorian Reform. During this time, he was the reform, changing the very foundation of the papacy, fighting for a more aggressive and proactive papacy. “Gregory VII identified three issues as key to the Church’s corruption: the sale of sacred office, the marriage of priests and, above all, the interference of powerful laymen in clerical appointments.” As pope, Gregory VII positioned took the positioned based on the fact that if the church remains unable to choose its own leaders, free from interference, then it will always remain entangled in the politics and money, never fully capable to encourage priests to preach and spread the Gospel to a forever sinful …show more content…
He called for bishops and priest all over Italy to be present for a twice a year synod in Rome. “Gregory used these synods to map out the reforms, which participants were then expected to implement in their own regions: the purging of unchaste clergy, the ordination of devout and competent priests, the abolition of the sale of sacred things and offices.” Gregory saw himself as God’s caretaker on earth, ordered to take care and watch over the whole church. He sent out hundreds of letters to rulers and heads of churches in many countries, trying to look out for and protect the rights of Christians who lived in Muslim territory. “The cause was not won by Gregory, but he had drawn the issue clearly. After the example of his pontificate the moral level of the church rose, and his successors were inspired to carry the investiture struggle to victory at the Concordat of Worms (1122).” During all this time, dealing with countless problems and struggles, Gregory stayed vigilant when monitoring the development of new churches in foreign countries such as Norway, Denmark and Slavic nations, while also constructing the first plans to crusade against the Turks. The Byzantine Emperor who was being threatened by the Turks sent multiple pleas of aid to the west. “While it may have helped to determine the time and the route of the First Crusade, 1095-99, its precise import is difficult to estimate. Modern historians have speculated