. . those popes . .
Always had to mix themselves in with politics . .
- - -
Well , it should be remembered that in old times the Church also had political power . .
There were Church-institutions such as the inquisition . . . and a sort of surveillance if people were loyal to their church.
A 'state within a state'.
.
. . those times are over though.
Today religion is a private matter and religion has lost in the West . .
. . though , had you , for example , said during the Middle Ages "God doesn't exist".