Boniface VIII

Pope Boniface VIII, who served from 1294 to 1303, was a significant medieval religious leader known for asserting the authority of the papacy. He believed the pope had spiritual and political power over secular rulers and issued important proclamations like the "Unam Sanctam," emphasizing that spiritual authority was supreme. His reign was marked by conflicts with kings, notably King Philip IV of France, which led to tensions between church and state. Boniface's assertiveness and conflicts contributed to political instability, and his death in 1303 left the church divided and facing further challenges.