how effective was the holy office (or universal inquisition), established by the papacy in 1542? the holy office was filled with internal rivalries and conflicts that prevented it from effectively working, despite a few famous cases. the holy office effectively destroyed heresy within the papal states but had little influence elsewhere. the holy office had considerable success in all catholic lands where political leaders supported it. the holy office's process of rooting out heresy was so effective that many protestant leaders invited it to work in protestant lands.