D. 588, John, Bishop of Constantinople, himself assumed
the coveted title of "Universal Bishop." The Roman bishop, Gregory the
Great, indignant at this usurpation, denounced him as a "usurper, aiming
at supremacy over the whole church," and declared that whoever claims such
supremacy "has the pride and character of _Antichrist_."

Boniface succeeded to the Roman See, and in the following year, A. D. 606,
only two years after Gregory's death, applied to Phocas,--who had ascended
the throne of Constantinople by the murder of the Emperor Mauritius,--for
the same blasphemous title, with the privilege of continuing it to his
successors. His request was granted, the Eastern Bishop was forbidden its
use, and the Primate of Rome was again acknowledged as "Universal Bishop,"
and the unrivalled "Head of all the churches." This title has been worn by
all the succeeding Popes; "but the highest authority," says Dr. Croly,
"among the civilians and annalists of Rome, spurn the idea that Phocas was
the founder of the supremacy of Rome. They ascend to Justinian as the only
legitimate source, and rightly date the title from the memorable year
533."--_Apoc._ p. 117.

In A. D. 730, Emperor Leo issued an edict for the destruction of all
images used in religious worship. From that time the Pope scorned his
authority, and acted in defiance of the emperor's will, who found himself
unable to compel the Pope to obey the edict.

The Papacy thus defied all human authority; but did not as yet attempt the
exercise of political power.

In A. D. 756, Pepin, the usurper of the crown of France, compelled the
King of Lombardy to cede the exarchate of Ravenna to the Pope, "to be
forever held and possessed by St. Peter and his lawful successors in the
See of Rome." The Pope had now become a temporal prince, and one of the
kings of the earth. In A. D. 774, Charlemagne, the successor of Pepin,
confirmed the former gift, and in addition, subjugated the Lombards, and
annexed a large portion of their kingdom and the Duchy of Rome to the
Roman See. In A. D. 817, Louis the Pious, granted "St. Peter's patrimony"
to the Pope and his successors, "in their own right, principality, and
dominion, unto the end of the world." Hence, as a temporal prince, the
Pope wears a triple crown.

In A. D. 800, Charlemagne was solemnly crowned and proclaimed emperor by
the Pope, having reduced under his sway nearly the whole of Europe. From
this time the Popes claimed superiori