Why did the church become so important in Western Europe?

the start of the Middle Ages, all Christians in western Europe belonged to a single church, which became known as the Roman Catholic Church. After the collapse of Rome, the Church played a vital role in society. ... The Church provided leadership and, at times, even organized the distribution of food.

The Roman Catholic Church emerged from the fall of Rome to play a central role in daily life in medieval western Europe. The Church Takes Shape​ More than just a religious institution, the Catholic Church was the center of community life and acquired great political and economic power.

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