What is it ?
This is the popular title of a forged document which alleges that Emperor Constantine bestowed upon Pope Sylvester and his successors various benefits. The document contains two parts. The first part, the "Confessio" relates how Constantine came to Rome to be baptized and instructed in the faith by Pope Sylvester (314-335). After he was baptized, Constantine was cured of leprosy. The second part, the "Donatio," is the conferring of the following privileges:
1) the pope receives primacy over the bishops of Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria;
2) the Roman clergy receive all the titles and privileges of the Roman Senate, including all ACCOUTREMENTS and titles. The pope is given the right to wear the royal crown;
3) the pope and his successors received the Lateran palace, all of Rome, the "Papal States" of Italy, along with the "western regions" (France, Spain, Britain, and ultimately, the Americas);
4) Constantine removes himself from the governance of Rome, which is to be sovereignly administered by the popes; and
5) the conferring of anathemas upon any who would question the Donation.
The document was cited by at least ten popes as justification for papal secular power and dominion over the church and state. In the instance of the Papal States, ownership of this land and control over its people lasted until the nineteenth century. Even after losing these lands in 1870, the Papacy benefited when a CONCORDAT was reached with Mussolini in 1929 to "reimburse" the Church. The Papacy received 750 million lire in cash, and 1 billion lire in state bonds as part of this concordat.
The document was conclusively exposed as a forgery by Lorenzo Valla in his book written in about 1440.
How did it come about ?
The actual dating of the forgery is disputed among Catholic historians. Those who support an early date of around 750 believe that the document was used by Stephen II (752-757) in his negotiations with Pepin, king of the Franks. At this time, the papacy was in economic trouble. The Turks had invaded lands (most notably, Spain) formerly "ruled" by the Church. The emperor of Constantinople had wrested control of Sicily, Sardinia, Calabria and Corsica. And most critically, the Lombards of Northern Italy were about to invade Central Italy and ultimately Rome. Stephen II implored Pepin to come to his aid - which he did, thus protecting the kingdom of the Popes. Pope Stephen even provided Pepin with a letter, on the finest paper, with gold letters, written from heaven by the apostle Peter himself. The original "holder of the keys" requested that Pepin come to Stephen's aid. Thus, the Papal States were protected.
Others believe that the purpose of the forgery was to support the transfer of the imperial power to Charlemagne, the first "Holy Roman Emperor" in 800. As a result of the Donation, the pope was regarded as having the power to consecrate secular rulers. The Donation was widely circulated after its incorporation into the "FALSE DECRETALS" around 840-850.
Ultimately, the major effect of the forgery was to maintain the secular power of the popes over Italy, and to support the notion that the popes held ultimate authority over the State. The Donation was deemed authentic for about 800 years. Leo IX used the forgery in 1054 in a letter to the Patriarch of Constantinople to show that the papacy possessed both spiritual and temporal authority. This was its first use to support its political conflicts. Urban II in 1091 used it to claim authority over the island of Corsica. Pope after pope utilized the document in support of the temporal power of the papacy. The Donation and other forgeries led to the formation of the INQUISITION, whereby secular authorities were made to do the bidding of the church in opposing "heretics."
The importance of fraudulent documents to consolidate the temporal power of the papacy is undeniable. The counterfeit church throughout history has used counterfeit claims to wield its counterfeit power. To the detriment of souls.
Why it is wrong:
1) ...because the document was used to justify the theft of land and temporal power, in violation of the ninth commandment;
2) ...because the document bears false witness, in violation of the eighth commandment;
3) ...because the document was used to usurp temporal authority which belongs to the state, not the church;
4) ...because it led to the evil use of temporal power (the sword) against true christians.
Warnings from Scripture:
And he [the angel] said to me "The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth. Rev. 17:17-18
Point to Ponder
As a consequence of the Donation, Pope Alexander VI in 1493, acting as the legal owner of all undiscovered lands, granted all such lands to the King of Spain. This was changed, of course, when the explorers of Portugal infringed on this domain. The pope redrew a line which "brought" Brazil under Portuguese rule.
