What was the response of the papacy towards Martin Luther?
Give me the papacy's side of the story, their viewpoint.
Include sources that proves martin luther guilty. It will be best if it is from the point of view of the papacy, specifically the pope or the church.
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The response of the papacy towards Martin Luther was largely negative, as his teachings and actions were seen as a challenge to their authority and the teachings of the Catholic Church. Here is an overview of the papacy's side of the story from their viewpoint:
1. Excommunication: In 1521, Pope Leo X issued a papal bull called "Exsurge Domine," in which he condemned Martin Luther's writings as heretical and gave him 60 days to recant his views. When Luther refused to do so, he was formally excommunicated from the Catholic Church.
2. Condemnation of Luther's teachings: The Catholic Church, through the papacy, rejected Luther's key theological ideas, such as sola fide (salvation by faith alone) and sola scriptura (scripture as the sole authority). They argued that these claims distorted the traditional teachings of the Church and undermined its authority.
3. The Diet of Worms: In 1521, Martin Luther was summoned to the Diet of Worms, a meeting of political and religious authorities called by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. It was here that the papacy and the Church had an opportunity to present their viewpoint to Luther. The Church representatives demanded that Luther recant his views, but he refused, leading to his excommunication.
4. Papal responses: The papacy continued to issue condemnations of Luther's teachings and actively worked against the spread of Protestantism, considering it a grave threat to Catholicism. Pope Paul III called the Council of Trent (1545-1563), which formulated Catholic counter-reformation doctrines and reaffirmed traditional Catholic teachings.
Regarding sources that prove Martin Luther guilty from the perspective of the papacy, it's important to note that the papal documents and statements from the time primarily present the viewpoints of the Church and the pope rather than providing direct evidence against Luther. However, you can refer to the following sources:
1. "Exsurge Domine" (1520) – This papal bull issued by Pope Leo X specifically condemned and listed 41 of Martin Luther's propositions as heretical. The text of this document can be found in historical archives and online resources.
2. "Diet of Worms" Proceedings – The official accounts and records of the Diet of Worms, which include the arguments put forth by the Church representatives and the response of Luther, can be consulted for an understanding of the papal viewpoint during the event.
To access primary sources, it is recommended to refer to historical archives, libraries, or credible academic resources that specialize in the history of the papacy, the Catholic Church, and the Reformation period.