To understand the rise of the Papacy in Rome, it is imperative to remember that the center of Christianity had been destroyed in 70 AD when Titus' army destroyed Jerusalem. Seeking leadership, Christians immediately looked to Rome as it was the center of power and capital of the Empire. In the 1st and 2nd centuries all roads indeed led to Rome. Another reason Christians looked to Rome for guidance is because they believed the church would come from Peter. Many interpreted Jesus' statement in Matthew 16:18, “Thou art Peter,” to mean literally that the church would be formed from Peter and that he would be associated with Rome. Therefore, the leadership of the church would evolve in Rome and its leader would bear the title of pope. Over the next six centuries a sequence of events would eventually bring the bishop of Rome and the papacy to great spiritual and political power in Western Europe. The emergence of papal power and its impact on the Western Empire was more likely due to a confluence of divinely inspired historical events than to the apostolic succession of Peter. The growth of the papacy is revealed through an evaluation of how popes came to power, an analysis of the contributing factors, and their impact on society. The rise to power of the Roman papacy The Roman Empire was governed in two parts after Christianity was legalized by Constantine in 313 AD The capital of the Eastern Empire was Constantinople while the capital of the Western Empire was Rome. However, the theological power in the West was in Alexandria and Antioch, not in Rome. The Empire also experienced the division of the language; Greek in the East and Latin in the West. This division may seem slight, however it began an ever-widening division of the Roman Empire...... middle of paper...... tury. Through the efforts of the Roman church the writings of antiquity have been copied, saved and archived. Any pre-8th century documents that exist today are said to be due to Charlemagne taking a personal interest in their collection and preservation. Important works, books and documents, including the Bible, were copied by monks and church members. The positive and negative factors of the Roman papacy's rise to power in Western Europe were centuries in the making. The Roman Pope gained theological, political, and military power, wealth, and land ownership that made him the preeminent force throughout Europe. Monarchs sought God's blessing for their rule through the Roman Pope, in turn the Roman Pope accessed monarchical support and political power. The strength of the papacy is demonstrated by its centuries of endurance, growth and impact on society.