re: History/Religion question for those interested

Back then, the way the power structure worked was that the Pope was the king of all Christians, the King of Kings. Kings of kingdoms ruled by "divine right" and were typically crowned by The Pope. Basically, their power flowed from the Pope.

Also, the Vatican and the church owned much of the land that the king and his nobles didn't own.

Siding against the church meant ex-communication. Once you were ex-communicated, the Pope would back rival nobles to defeat you. Basically, he was afraid for his soul as well as for his own skin.