Henry’s Problem with the Pope

Part One - LOVE

Henry wanted to marry Anne Boleyn, this desire became more urgent when he realised that she was pregnant, possibly with the son he wanted to be his heir to the throne. To do this he needed to get permission from the Pope to divorce Catherine.

The problem was that the Pope said NO!

Although Catholics still today do not believe in divorce it was not unknown for a Pope to grant permission to a King to do so, especially when they find a reason like Henry did! He found a passage in the Bible which said he should not marry his brothers wife.

The Pope was having some money problems though and was being controlled by the King of Spain who was Catherine’s nephew!

Part Two- RELIGION

Henry was in despair. He had recently criticised a monk in Germany called Martin Luther. Luther had protested against the Catholic Church saying it was corrupt and unfair for poor ordinary people who could not speak Latin and afford to pay to have sins forgiven. However the more the Pope said no to divorce the more Henry saw the appeal of breaking away like Luther had done.

Part Three – MONEY AND POWER

Henry’s advisor Thomas Cromwell saw the opportunity to sort out the Kings financial situation. The Catholic church was very wealthy. It owned a third of the land in all of England (even more than the King!) and everybody paid 10% of their earnings known as a Tithte to the Church. If Henry became head of the Church he would get the money instead of the Pope, and that would make him even more powerful.

Solution – Set up the Church OF England, with Henry as its Head.

The problem was that this Upset The Pope, The King of Spain, Monks, Priests, English Catholics and all other Catholic countries like Ireland and France. Not many people then!!!!!!!!

Find out more about Why our School is named after Henry VIII.