ABSTRACT
Historically the Church had become a power in the Roman Empire before the German nations established themselves within it. At the end of the fourth century, when Christianity was made the state religion of the Roman Empire, the bishops were regarded with more respect than were the governors of the provinces. As the Roman Empire declined, the Church more and more insinuated itself into secular administration until, with the lapse of all imperial power and authority, the Church not only survived the Roman Empire, but very largely also supplanted it. While some of this wealth was employed to care for the poor and the sick, to maintain the clergy and to erect new churches, it yet widened the gap between clergy and people. In spite of the obscurity which veils the early history of the Church in Rome, by the second century we find in the West recognition of the superiority of the bishop of Rome.
