Concordat agenda, 1075: the “Papal dictation”

 Here the dove of the Holy Ghost inspires Saint Gregory, while a monk at his feet takes down his words. This is the theory behind the Papal dictation. This document was written on piece of parchment placed in the papal registers of Gregory VII for the year 1075. [1]

It was never signed by Gregory, much less published. It's far too frank for that. For instance his Dictation clearly states that the pope has the right to depose, reinstate and transfer bishops (nos. 3, 4, 13, 25). However, such bald assertions would have scuttled the later concordat negotiations in London, where the King's face was saved by permitting him to receive the empty “homage”, of the clerics he could no longer invest. [2] 

Here Gregory claims the right to dissolve the bonds of fealty between a vassal and his lord which is what held mediaeval society together. Fealty involved six duties: to keep his lord safe, to protect him from harm, to preserve the lord’s justice, to prevent damage to his possessions, and to assist and not hinder his lord in the carrying out of his duties. [3] Gregory asserts that the pope is a saint (a harbinger of the 1870 doctrine of papal infallibility) with the right to appoint and remove bishops, depose emperors and “be judged by no one”. Europe was to become a theocracy ruled by the saint at the Vatican.

Even though this blunt memo was not signed by Gregory, scholars agree that “these short, aphoristic descriptions of papal power and authority [...] are congruent with his other letters, thought, and actions.” [4]

Notes

  
Dictatus papae (Papal dictation), 1075

 That the Roman church was founded by God alone.

1. That the Roman pontiff alone can with right be called universal.
2. That he alone can depose or reinstate bishops.
3. That, in a council, his legate, even if a lower grade, is above all bishops, and can pass sentence of deposition against them.
4. That the pope may depose the absent.
5. That, among other things, we ought not to remain in the same house with those excommunicated by him.
6. 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.
7. That he alone may use the imperial insignia.
8. That of the pope alone all princes shall kiss the feet.
9. That his name alone shall be spoken in the churches.
10. That this is the only name in the world.
11. That it may be permitted to him to depose emperors.
12. That he may be permitted to transfer bishops if need be.
13. That he has power to ordain a clerk of any church he may wish.
14. 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.
15. That no synod shall be called a general one without his order.
16. That no chapter and no book shall be considered canonical without his authority.
17. That a sentence passed by him may be retracted by no one; and that he himself, alone of all, may retract it.
18. That he himself may be judged by no one.
19. That no one shall dare to condemn one who appeals to the apostolic chair.
20. That to the latter should be referred the more important cases of every church.
21. That the Roman church has never erred; nor will it err to all eternity, the Scripture bearing witness.
22. 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.
23. That, by his command and consent, it may be lawful for subordinates to bring accusations.
24. That he may depose and reinstate bishops without assembling a synod.
25. That he who is not at peace with the Roman church shall not be considered catholic.
26. That he may absolve subjects from their fealty to wicked men.

Source: translated in Ernest F. Henderson, Select Historical Documents of the Middle Ages, (London: George Bell and Sons, 1910), pp. 366-367. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/g7-dictpap.html