Final answer:
The emperor's interference in church affairs, along with other factors like the Avignon papacy and the Great Western Schism, led to the Great Schism of 1054 and a weakened papal authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
The emperor's interference with church affairs furthered the division between the churches and led to the Great Schism of 1054, among other issues. During periods when the Empire's leadership exercised control over the church, particularly through organizing ecumenical councils to settle doctrinal matters, tensions could mount between secular and religious leaders.
Factional politics within the Empire, territorial conflicts spurred by nationalism, and instances of emperors intervening in religious matters exacerbated these divisions. Major events such as the Avignon papacy, the Great Western Schism, and the subsequent conciliar movement, which saw attempts to grant more power to clergy councils, also highlighted the growing rift within Christianity.
Furthermore, confrontations between popes and national rulers further weakened papal authority, contributing to the internal destabilization that characterized the Christian church during the fourteenth century.