The article explores how medieval canon law influenced the notion of absolute papal authority through pivotal concepts such as plenitudo potestatis, potestas absoluta, and pro ratione voluntas. Key developments during the thirteenth century, particularly under Pope Innocent III, highlighted the papal office as the locus of supreme authority. Innocent's decretal, Quanto personam, reinforced the pope's role as Christ's vicar, solidifying the ecclesiastical hierarchy. Such legal concepts laid the groundwork for later theories of sovereignty, demonstrating the lasting impact of medieval canon law on political thought and authority.
Pope Innocent III's decretal Quanto personam asserts that supreme authority is vested in the papal office, establishing the pope as the vicar of Christ on Earth.
The evolution of canon law concepts like plenitudo potestatis shaped medieval sovereignty theories, affirming the pope's absolute authority and his role in ecclesiastical governance.
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