Why did King John quarrel with Pope Innocent III?

King John’s quarrel with Pope Innocent III was primarily triggered by a dispute over the appointment of the archbishop of Canterbury following the death of Hubert Walter in 1205.12

When the election of John’s preferred nominee was quashed, the Pope intervened and secured the election of Stephen Langton. John refused to accept Langton, asserting the traditional rights of the English crown in episcopal elections, and blocked the new archbishop from entering his province.12

In response, the Pope placed England under an interdict in 1208 and excommunicated John in 1209. The conflict persisted until 1213, when John, seeking to secure the papacy as an ally for his military ambitions in France, finally agreed to accept Langton and the Pope's terms. John ultimately surrendered his kingdom to the papacy, receiving it back as a vassal and agreeing to pay an annual tribute.12