Church activities of Wroclaw’s Bishop Wawrzyniec in 1208–1232

In January 24, 1207 through archbishop Henry Kietlicz, Pope Innocent III issued a bull, which main content was to remind the polish princes of the right of free election, under penalty of excommunication for the opposition. Prince Henry the Bearded in order to avoid the conflict with the church, supported the candidacy of Wroclaw’s canon Wawrzyniec. The new bishop of Wrocław came probably from the lineage of knights – the lords of Pogorzela near Brzeg nad Odrą and walked out of the chapter. A very important moment in the life and pastoral activity of Bishop Wawrzyniec was to participate in the fourth Lateran council in 1215, convened by Pope Innocent III. The Council fathers occupied i.a. with an important problem, which is going to be occupied by the bishop Wawrzyniec, ie. the matter of ecclesiastical tithes, when the bishop Wawrzyniec come out strongly against the policy of Henry the Bearded, which release German’s settlers from payment of this dues. In the last years of his life, prominent archbishop Henry Kietlicz, with whom bishop Wawrzyniec was generally in good relations, was losing slowly the gained influence and was leaving by most faithful collaborators of the episcopate. Many historians believed that this group joined also the bishop Wawrzyniec, because in last years of live of archbishop, he stood firmly at the side of Henry the Bearded. Bishop Wawrzyniec has contributed to the development of the organization of the diocese of Wrocław. He, who had good relationship with the cathedral chapter held a minor reforms aimed at strengthening its organizational structures. During the reign of bishop Wawrzyniec there was extended an episcopal office, which served primarily the private needs of the bishop and later ecclesiastical issues of his diocese. It wasn’t given to bishop Wawrzyniec to play a significant political role comparing to so prominent and powerful prince, as Henry the Bearded.