Skip to content

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

Boniface VIII

Facts

Birth: 1235
Death: 1303

Author and Publisher - Catholic Online
Printable Catholic Saints PDFs
Shop Boniface VIII

Image of Boniface VIII

Boniface VIII The wishes of Pope Boniface VIII were to maintain peace in Europe and to free the Holy Land from the Turks. His was not a successful papacy. Born Benedetto Gaetani c. 1235, he was a lawyer, a papal notary, and a cardinal before he advised Celestine V to resign in 1294. Boniface was then elected to the see of Rome and his reign was characterized by conflict with Philip IV of France. Boniface believed strongly in the supreme power of the papacy, a principle expounded in his bull, Unam Sanctam, a popular Medićval document. Philip believed that he held sovereignty over all in his kingdom, including the clery. In 1297, the pope and the king reached an understanding: Boniface canonized Louis IX of France and Philip could tax the clergy in an emergency without consulting the pope. In 1302, Philip demanded that Boniface resign because his birth was illegitimate; because he was a heretic; and because he had engaged in sexual misconduct. Boniface was about to excommunicate Philip when the king's troops captured the pope at Agnani. Freed by the citizens, Boniface returned to Rome in September, 1303, and died there a month later.

Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Prayer of the Day logo
Saint of the Day logo

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

Catholic Online Logo

Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.