[SoCal Pubbie]

True, there was no melding of Church and State in Medieval Catholicism. The Church, and the Pope himself, was above King and Emperor. The Divine right of kings meant that a ruler was placed there by God, who's representative on Earth was the Pope himself. The Pope, or his Bishop, crowned the king and should the king he found a heretic and excommunicated, the Pope would take all measures to have him removed by whatever means necessary.

[AnAmericanMother]

Actually, the concept of the "Divine Right of Kings" originated much later. It was first posited in the late 16th century by French jurist Jean Bodin, but it did not gain much traction until adopted by James I & VI of England & Scotland. It played a large role in bringing his son Charles I to grief.

THAT one can't be blamed on medieval philosophers or the Pope.