The reputation of the papacy in the Renaissance suffered, in part, because:

The papacy began the renaissance era in crisis, it was called the "Great Schism of 1378" that made possible the election of three popes at the same time. This lasted forty years until The Council of Constance elected Pope Martin V as sole pope.

The Pope was chosen by a college of cardinals that were all wealthy and relatives of the popes that were elected. They were all also representatives of monarchies of Europe and members of powerful families.

With this papacy strongly influenced politics and also had a great amount of money. At the time the papacy was an institution separated from the church, and the popes used a private army to increase their territories and also to enrich themselves and their families.

At the end the reputation of the papacy during the Renaissance was a superstar pope filled with money and corruption, several popes had mistresses and fathered children and engaged in murders. Leo X is a good example and said: "let us enjoy the papacy since God has given it to us".