Leo IX was a reform Pope who constantly was fighting for reform. Leo IX envisioned the Church would eventually be composed of churchmen with high-morals that were against simony and clerical marriage. In order to build a Church like he envisioned, he "traveled constantly himself to preside over local councils and depose guilty churchmen." Leo IX was a very successful papal reformist, but he also caused much turmoil amongst other papal reform groups. Many people wanted freedom from the state despite the fact that the church and the state worked closely during this time period and the kings and princes provided the papacy with gifts (e.g. land, buildings, etc) and support. Reformists felt that Emperor Henry III had too much authoritative power since he could appoint and depose Popes. .

             Henry III and Leo IX continued to work together harmoniously despite the rising number of papal reformists that wanted separation from the state. Leo IX continued enforcing his campaigns against clerical marriage and simony while Henry III continued to support the well doings of the Pope. Together, the Pope and the Emperor agreed on many policies, and they, in turn, "raised the overall moral level of the European Church.".

             There was great support for church reform by the Emperor and the Pope which correspondingly created a strong bond between them. Unfortunately, Leo IX"s time as Pope ran out in 1054, which led to papal leadership by a strong group of reform cardinals. Henry III died and left his throne to his six year-old-son Henry IV in 1056. The end of Pope Leo IX and Emperor Henry III"s alliance and years of cohesive church reform marked the beginning of a new alliance between two very different people, Pope Gregory VII and Emperor Henry III. .

             In the year 1057, after all of Emperor Henry III"s papal appointees had died, a group of reform cardinals began appointing popes without lay control.