Question

What impact did the policies of the renaissance popes have on the Catholic Church?

Answer 1

Most of the Popes of the Renaissance period (1450-1600) were very 'worldly' (that is rich and immoral politicians) instead of real 'churchmen' (Adrian VI being an exception). Their policies for the most part were to.....
1. Build and take over the 'Papal States' of central Italy giving Popes an actual 'country' to be in charge of.
2. Break the power of and make war on rival 'great families' of Italy using foreign troops/ mercenaries (most of the Renaissance Popes were from rich Italian great families such as the Medici, Farnese, etc. they used their position as Pope to take out rival families such as the Orsini, Colonna etc.).
3.Being rich and used to riches they beautified Rome with art, jewels, gold, fountains, architecture.
The impact on the Church was that no one was really paying attention to running it, just using it, or paying attention to religious matters. To the truly religious the Popes behavior of the times were mostly disgusting. The 'Reformation' and Protestantism (the religious breaking away and starting their own independent Churches) started elsewhere in Europe during the period as a result.