Clement V had a relationship/friendship with Philip long before he became Pope, and it is likely that Philip worked behind the scenes to elevate Clement to the papacy with the French Cardinals. Philip ignored Unam Sanctum intervening directly in Church affairs and authority with impunity, the greatest of those being the assault against the Templars. It is impossible to disentangle the struggles of head of secular Kingdom and head of Christianity, and the result was legal and financial power. Clement attempted at time to ameliorate this conflict, including amending Unam sanctum, in order to re-assert power of the seat of Peter, but ultimately the power base of popes, the Italians in Rome, were mired in their own conflicts and could not provide a unified authority.

The destruction of the Templars was a direct result of Philip (and his astonishingly effective ministers) desire to usurp the headship of the Church and Christian peoples, with the monetary and property being a lovely reward for the efforts. It was not just about the money, contrary to popular mythology.