King Louis XII of France called Parliament to Tours in 1510 to discuss declaring war on Pope Julius II and the Papal States. Pope Julius II was well known at that time as being a very warlike and aggressive leader. He often went to battle with his soldiers, something that was not common for a pope. He was also very frugal, commonly referred to as "pinching a penny until it bleeds." These traits made him unpopular with the majority of political and religious leaders in Europe.

The king and his advisors had a discussion during the Parliament session on whether to go to war or not. The Parliamentarians believed that Pope Julius II was more of a mercenary warlord rather than a spiritual leader. They believed his actions were not what they expected the pope to be like, which was a shepherd looking after his flock. Based on this perception, they urged King Louis XII to act decisively.

Parliament advised the king to prepare both offensive and defensive measures against the Pope and his forces. They believed that France had the right to defend itself from Julius II’s political and military ambitions. With the support of Parliament, Louis XII declared war on Pope Julius II and the Papal States shortly after the meeting.

This war was significant in that it highlighted the tensions between secular rulers and the papacy during the early 16th century. Popes at this time were often more political and military figures than religious ones, and as such, there were constant conflicts with European monarchs. The war between France and the Papal States was just one instance of the larger power struggles of the era in European history.