Papal temporal power prevented the political unification of Renaissance Italy

Evidence

His criticisms of the Church in his day are two: that by its evil conduct it has undermined religious belief, and that the temporal power of the popes, with the policy that it inspires, prevents the unification of Italy. — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 1878

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 1878
• XREF: connects to: Priestly celibacy deliberately severed local attachments and enabled papal absolutism — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 679; Italian unification faced open resistance from French national interests; The Vatican sponsored outward-facing political parties rather than internal Church reform (+3 more)