Why was the pope unable to grant Henry VIII of England the annulment he desired?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Emperor Charles V, who was Catherine of Aragon's nephew, had major political influence over the papacy at the time and essentially held the pope hostage. Since Catherine was his relative, he did not want the annulment to be granted and pressured the pope to deny it. Thus, the pope was unable to grant Henry VIII's request due to political pressures beyond his control.

Why Was the Pope Unable to Grant Henry VIII of England