The Catholic Church's response to the development of Protestantism included the Council of Trent, which was a series of meetings held between 1545 and 1563 to address the issues raised by the Protestant Reformation. The council reaffirmed many traditional Catholic teachings and practices, emphasized the importance of scripture and tradition in religious doctrine, and declared the authority of the Pope as the ultimate arbiter of faith. Additionally, the Catholic Church also engaged in counter-reformation efforts to combat the spread of Protestantism and win back converts. This included the founding of new religious orders, promoting missionary work, and implementing reforms within the church itself.
