He wanted to divorce his first wife, which was not permitted in the Catholic church at that time. This is why he made the church of England =============== Anglican Catholic Answer! Because Henry applied to the pope,not for a divorce, but for an annulment. The pope and the Cardinals took millions in gold from Henry and when the Bishop of Rome, at the German Emperors order, refused Henry's request and wouldn't' return the money,henry pointed out that he really did't need the pope's agreement anyway, because the Pope didn't have the authority anyhow! This was true and it struck right at the base of the pope's authority.