<P> From 1048 to 1257, the papacy experienced increasing conflict with the leaders and churches of the Holy Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire). The latter culminated in the East--West Schism, dividing the Western Church and Eastern Church . From 1257--1377, the pope, though the bishop of Rome, resided in Viterbo, Orvieto, and Perugia, and then Avignon . The return of the popes to Rome after the Avignon Papacy was followed by the Western Schism: the division of the western church between two and, for a time, three competing papal claimants . </P> <P> The Renaissance Papacy is known for its artistic and architectural patronage, forays into European power politics, and theological challenges to papal authority . After the start of the Protestant Reformation, the Reformation Papacy and Baroque Papacy led the Catholic Church through the Counter-Reformation . The popes during the Age of Revolution witnessed the largest expropriation of wealth in the church's history, during the French Revolution and those that followed throughout Europe . The Roman Question, arising from Italian unification, resulted in the loss of the Papal States and the creation of Vatican City . </P> <P> Catholics recognize the pope as the successor to Saint Peter, whom Jesus designated as the "rock" upon which the Church was to be built . Although Peter never bore the title of "pope" (pappas), Catholics recognize him as the first bishop of Rome . Official declarations of the Church speak of the popes as holding within the college of the bishops a position analogous to that held by Peter within the "college" of the Apostles, namely Prince of the Apostles, of which the college of the Bishops, a distinct entity, is viewed by some to be the successor . </P> <P> Many deny that Peter and those claimed to be his immediate successors had universally - recognized supreme authority over all the early churches . </P>

Where did the idea of a pope come from