A dispute with the reigning Pope in 1209 meant that John was actually excommunicated from the Catholic Church during his reign. This was a disastrous blunder, as the excommunication of a king was a valid casus belli (a legal reason to declare war) for neighbouring Catholic rulers, all of whom were hungry for the lands and territory that John had under his control. Furthermore, it ruined his reputation in the eyes of his people, who prized God and religion above even their own king. John mended his relationship with the Papacy in 1214, undoing his excommunication. However, at this point, the damage had already been done.
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