In the year 1059 this had been changed. By a decree of Pope Nicholas II the principal priests and deacons of the churches in and around Rome were organised into the so-called College of Cardinals, and this gathering of prominent churchmen (the word "Cardinal" meant principal) was given the exclusive power of electing the future Popes.
不过到公元1059年，情况发生了变化。根据教皇尼古拉二世的命令，成立了一个由罗马附近教区的主教及执事所组成的红衣主教团。这群地位显赫的教会头目被赋予了选举未来教皇的绝对权力。
In the year 1073 the College of Cardinals elected a priest by the name of Hildebrand, the son of very simple parents in Tuscany, as Pope, and he took the name of Gregory VII. His energy was unbounded. His belief in the supreme powers of his Holy Office was built upon a granite rock of conviction and courage. In the mind of Gregory, the Pope was not only the absolute head of the Christian church, but also the highest Court of Appeal in all worldly matters. The Pope who had elevated simple German princes to the dignity of Emperor could depose them at will. He could veto any law passed by duke or king or emperor, but whosoever should question a papal decree, let him beware, for the punishment would be swift and merciless.
公元1073年，红衣主教团 选出了新教皇格利高里七世。此人原名希尔布兰德，出生于托斯卡纳地区的一个极普通人家。他具有超乎常人的野心和旺盛的精力。格利高里深信，教皇的超然权力应该是建立在花岗石般坚固的信念和勇气之上的。在他看来，教皇不仅是基督教会的绝对首脑，而且还应是所有世俗事务的最高上诉法官。教皇既然可以将普通的日尔曼王公提升到皇帝的高位，享有他们从未梦想过的尊严，他当然也有权随意废黜他们。他可以否决任何一项由某位大公、国王或皇帝制定的法律，可要是有谁胆敢质间某项教皇宣布的敕令，那他可得当心了，因为随之而来的惩罚将是迅速而毫不留情的。
Gregory sent ambassadors to all the European courts to inform the potentates of Europe of his new laws and asked them to take due notice of their contents. William the Conqueror promised to be good, but Henry IV, who since the age of six had been fighting with his subjects, had no intention of submitting to the Papal will. He called together a college of German bishops, accused Gregory of every crime under the sun and then had him deposed by the council of Worms.
格利高里派遣大使到欧洲所有的宫廷，向君主们通告他颁布的新法令，并要求他们适当注意其内容。征服者威廉答应好好听话。但从6岁开始便常与臣属打架斗殴的亨利四世是个天生反叛的家伙，他根本不打算屈从于教皇的意志。亨利召集了一个德国教区的主教会议，指控格利高里犯下了日光之下的一切罪行，最后以沃尔姆斯宗教会议的名义废黜了教皇。