Europe was at that time in a condition little better than anarchy. A
perpetual quarrel was going on between the feudal barons. The Church,
too, as we have seen (SS53, 60), had temporarily lost much of its
power for good. Pope Gregory conceived a scheme of reform which he
intended should be both wide and deep.
Like Dunstan (S60), he determined to correct the abuses which had
crept into the monasteries. He resolved to have a priesthood who
should devote themselves body and soul to the interests of the Church;
he resolved to bring all society into submission to that priesthood;
finally, he resolved to make the priesthood itself acknowledge him as
its sole master. His purpose in this gigantic scheme was a noble one;
it was to establish the unity and peace of Europe.