The Papacy and the Czech Lands. A history of mutual relations

If we wish to examine the historical links between the Papacy and the Czech Lands, we must understand the striking differences between these entities. The Czech Lands, whether they constituted an independent state or were incorporated into larger state formations, represented and represent also nowadays a small Central-European country. Therefore from the aspect of the papacy, which had gradually transformed into an institution of truly universal political and religious significance, i.e., with an incomparably broader focus, the Czech Lands were viewed as just one of many other countries with which it was in contact. Although contacts occurred in various ways and with varying intensity, it was generally the Papacy which in terms of the Czech Lands was in the position of the delivering, formulating and teaching party. Nevertheless the counterparty was resistant to this tendency or it went its own way. In comparison with the other neighbouring states, the Czech Lands got a certain peripheral status and became the centre of the Popes‘ interest only during a few periods.