By changing the religion of his realm from Catholicism to Lutheranism, he severed ties with the Vatican, undermined the authority of the Catholic bishops, and got his hands on the coffers of the church.
Nomainīdams valsts reliģiju no katoļu uz luterāņu, viņš sarāva saites ar Vatikānu, iedragāja katoļu bīskapu autoritāti un ieguva noteikšanu pār baznīcas īpašumiem.