Why was King Henry VIII excommunicated, and was it really just about divorce? In this episode of FACTS, we examine the full historical record behind Henry VIII’s break with Rome—from his marriages and annulment request to the final papal sentence issued by Pope Paul III.

This episode covers:

• Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon and the papal dispensation

• Why Pope Clement VII never granted the annulment

• How royal supremacy, not marriage alone, caused the schism

• Rome’s repeated warnings and delayed judgment

• The bull of excommunication issued by Pope Paul III in 1538

Drawing on primary sources and early modern papal records, Stephen Boyce and Pat May challenge the claim that Henry VIII was never truly excommunicated or that the English Reformation began as a theological reform. Instead, it shows how questions of authority, jurisdiction, and ecclesiology shaped the break with Rome.

#HenryVIII #PopePaulIII #Excommunication #BreakWithRome #EnglishReformation

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Pope Paul III and the Excommunication of King Henry VIII