In 1303, Pope Boniface VIII issued the papal bull 'Unam Sanctam,' which asserted the supremacy of the papacy over temporal rulers. This document, created in response to political tensions with King Philip IV of France, emphasized the spiritual authority of the Church and its role in governing moral and political matters. The issuance of this bull had significant implications for the relationship between church and state in medieval Europe.

The themes of power and authority in 'Unam Sanctam' resonated with poets and writers of the time, influencing their exploration of political and religious themes in literature. The conflict between church and state became a recurring motif in poetry, as seen in the works of Dante and other contemporaneous writers.