Folia Theologica 18. (2007)
Szabolcs Anzelm Szuromi: Peculiarities of the conception of 'sacred power' and its exercise between 1073 and 1303
270 SZ. A. SZUROMI Roman Pontiff, as head of the college of bishops, has supreme, official, direct, ordinary and complete jurisdiction in the whole Church.43 This clearly indicates the unity of the spiritual power, and also its perfect sovereignty. Obviously, it would follow that each baptized person who belongs to the Catholic Church could assist for this authority within the limit of his/her mandate, but could not intrinsically influence it. This mandate, with regard to the anointed ruler, who has taken oath, certainly takes the form of the defense of society and the serving of its peace, through legislation and administration, but also by political or military activity.44 The Theory of the Two Swords had been a basic interpretive horizon for the relationship between Church and state - the spiritual and the secular power - until the time, when thenew Theory of the "Two Perfect Societies" appeared.45 43 Decretum Gratiani (1140): C. 1 q. 1 c. 123; C. 9 q. 3 c. 21; Liber Extra (1234): X 1. 33. 6; cf. ERDŐ, Teológia del derecho canónico, 110-112. 44 Extrav. Comm. 8. 1: (...) “Spiritualis homo iudicat omnia, ipse autem a nemine iudicatur.” Est autem hoc auctoritas, et si data sit homini, et exerceatur per hominem, non humana, sed potius divina, ore divino Petro data, sibique suisque successoribus in ipso, quem confessus fuit petra, firmata, dicente Domino ipsi Petro: “Quodcunque ligaveris etc.” Quicunque igitur huic potestati a Deo sic ordinatae resistit (...). 45 Cf. SZUROMI, SZ.,The Changes of Modern Era Relation of Church and State in Europe, in Folia Canonica 8 (2005) 65-77, especially 67.
