Cum postquam

papal bull

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July 17, 2026

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The papal bull Cum postquam was issued by Pope Boniface VIII in 1303. It was part of his broader assertion of papal authority over secular rulers, particularly King Philip IV of France. The bull Unam sanctam, issued in 1302, is more famous and proclaimed the necessity of submission to the pope for salvation. Boniface VIII's reign was marked by conflicts with monarchs who challenged papal power, leading to his eventual capture and death. The Cum postquam bull, though less prominent, reflects this struggle for papal supremacy in the late Middle Ages.1

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Martin Luther
Luther, Cajetan, and Eck
…Leo X issued the bull Cum postquam (“When After”), which defined the doctrine of indulgences and addressed the issue of the authority of the church to absolve the faithful from temporal punishment. Luther’s views were declared to be in conflict with the teaching of the church.
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…Leo X issued the bull Cum postquam (“When After”), which defined the doctrine of indulgences and addressed the issue of the authority of the church to absolve the faithful from temporal punishment. Luther’s views were declared to be in conflict with the teaching of the church.
Read More