Popes acted as political leaders as well as warriors during the 15th and 16th centuries (option A). Instead of being examples of Christian behavior, some of them engaged in wars, directed military operations and put political pressures to obtain personal benefits. As an example, Pope Julius II, known as the "Warrior Pope", was a skilled politician as well as conqueror. He fought numerous battles so as to expel all foreign domination from Italy in order to settle an independent Italian kingdom.
