Political intrigue within the Catholic Church in the middle 14th century caused the Great Schism. During this 40 year period two popes – one in Avignon and one in Rome – claimed rulership over the Church.  Healed in 1417 AD, papal authority had suffered and diminished greatly.  The Church’s power was further weaken by the Protestant Reformation of Martin Luther.  The Reformation damaged the Holy Roman Empire’s power, as German princes became divided between Protestant and Roman Catholic faiths.  This action led to 30 years of war (1618- 1648 AD) which weakened the Holy Roman Empire and devastated much of Germany.  In the aftermath, France rose to predominance in Europe.