It seemed as if they wanted to show how easily the Church could get on without the Vicar of Christ.
Toward the close of the eleventh century the Roman Church became the Roman court.

In place of the Christian sheep gently following their shepherd in the holy precincts of the city, there had arisen a chancery of writers, notaries, tax-gatherers, where transactions about privileges, dispensations, exemptions, were carried on; and suitors went with petitions from door to door.

Rome was a rallying-point for place-hunters of every nation.

In presence of the enormous mass of business-processes, graces, indulgences, absolutions, commands, and decisions, addressed to all parts of Europe and Asia, the functions of the local church sank into insignificance.

Several hundred persons, whose home was the Curia, were required.