Final answer:
Reforming Popes needed to keep control over the appointment of bishops to eliminate simony and prevent secular rulers from exerting influence over the Church. Appointing bishops by lay people was seen as a potential threat to the autonomy and integrity of the Church.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the era of reforming Popes, it was important for them to keep control over the appointment of bishops for several reasons. Firstly, the Popes wanted to eliminate the practice of simony, where church offices were sold for financial gain. They believed that bishops should be elected by clergy instead, ensuring that positions of power were not obtained through bribery or corruption. Additionally, by controlling the appointment of bishops, the reforming Popes aimed to limit the influence of secular rulers who might use their power to appoint bishops as a means of exerting control over the Church.
While the appointment of bishops by lay people was not always inherently bad, the reforming Popes saw it as a threat to the autonomy and integrity of the Church. Lay people, particularly secular rulers, could appoint bishops for political reasons rather than for their spiritual qualifications. This could lead to bishops who were more loyal to secular rulers than to the Church and its teachings. By taking control over the appointment of bishops, the reforming Popes sought to ensure that bishops were selected based on their spiritual merits and commitment to the Church.