Gallicanism and Opposition to Papal Power

Gallicanism and Opposition to Papal Power

   

 

 

• This was a time of growing nationalism and absolute monarchs, and therefore both kings and nationalist opposed the notion of a centralized church under papal

  authority.

• Such attitudes were given the name of "Gallicanism"-from "Gaul."
• In France, they became most powerful.
• Those who defended the authority of the pope were called "Ultramontanes," for they looked for authority "beyond the mountains" that is, beyond the Alps.
• The French insisted on those ancient "freedoms of the Gallican church," denied by the centralizing edicts of Trent.
• Gallicans opposed the centralization of power in the papacy for political reasons.