Lesson 4: The Counter-Reformation

Facing the loss of millions of followers, the Catholic Church launched the Counter-Reformation. Pope Paul III called the Council of Trent (1545-1563), a meeting of church leaders that lasted eighteen years. The goal was to clarify Catholic teachings and clean up corruption.

The Council strictly banned the sale of indulgences and required better education for priests. However, it refused to compromise on doctrine: it reaffirmed the Pope's supreme authority, the importance of the seven sacraments, and the necessity of both faith and good works for salvation. This drew a clear line between Catholic and Protestant beliefs.

To win back souls and spread the faith, the Church recognized a new religious order: the Jesuits (Society of Jesus), founded by the former soldier Ignatius of Loyola. Organized with military discipline, the Jesuits focused on rigorous Education and obedience to the Pope.

They founded superb schools and universities throughout Europe to debate Protestant arguments. Crucially, they became the world's first global Missionaries. Jesuits like Francis Xavier traveled to India, Japan, and the Americas, converting millions and creating a global Catholic presence that outlasted the religious wars in Europe.

To stop the spread of "heresy" (Protestantism) in Catholic lands, the Church strengthened the Inquisition, a Roman court system established to investigate and punish non-believers. The Inquisition used secret testimony and torture to root out Protestants, Jews, and Muslims in places like Spain and Italy.

The Church also tried to control ideas through censorship, creating the Index of Prohibited Books. This was a list of publications that Catholics were forbidden to read, including works by Luther and scientists like Galileo. While these harsh measures kept Italy and Spain Catholic, they also stifled intellectual freedom in those regions for generations.