The Council was convened on December 13, 1545, as a response to the Protestant Reformation by Pope Paul III.
However, due to the plague outbreaks at that time and the wars that arose precisely because of the Protestant Reformation, the proceedings of the Council did not go according to plan. For the same reasons, the initial gathering of the Council prevented many bishops from attending, so only about thirty bishops were present at the first session. Just over a year later, in March 1547, due to fear of the plague, the Council was moved to Bologna, and on September 17, 1549, it was postponed indefinitely. Pope Julius III reopened the Council on May 1, 1551, with the aim of continuing the work of the first session, but due to wars, again caused by the Protestant Reformation, the Council was soon closed.
Nevertheless, this did not discourage the successors of Saint Peter; thus, the third pope to oversee this Council, Pope Pius IV, reconvened it on January 18, 1562. This session brought a larger number of bishops, so that at the final sessions, 255 bishops were present. The final sessions concluded on December 4, 1563, about 18 years after the first opening of the Council.
The main goal of the Council was to confront Protestantism and to encourage church reform. Thus, reforms were adopted concerning the issue of granting indulgences, which was one of the main issues at the beginning of the Reformation. Decisions were also made regarding the renewal of monastic life and the education of the clergy.
Although the idea of the Council was ecumenical, in its decisions, it did not accommodate Protestants at all. It was decided that the Church has the final say in interpreting Scripture, and a Christian who did not submit to the Church’s interpretation was to be declared a heretic. Furthermore, both the Bible and Church Tradition are equal sources of revelation. Opposing Luther’s doctrine of salvation by faith alone, the Council emphasized that salvation comes through faith and works.
Regarding the Eucharist, it was stressed that it is a true sacrifice and sacrament in which Christ is truly, really, and substantially present in the bread and wine, through the consecratory prayer. It was also confirmed that Christ handed over priestly authority to the apostles with the words spoken at the Last Supper: “Do this in memory of me.” The practice of communion for the laity under one species (only bread) was affirmed, leaving to the Pope the right to decide otherwise.
In the decrees on marriage, the superiority of celibacy for consecrated persons was emphasized, concubinage was condemned, and it was decided that for a marriage to be valid, it must be contracted before a priest and two witnesses. It was also decided that in the case of divorce, the innocent party could remarry only after the death of their spouse, even if adultery was involved.
At the last, 25th session, the doctrine of Purgatory was confirmed, as well as the practice of invoking the intercession of saints and venerating relics. The practice of granting indulgences was also confirmed, with some recommendations to prevent abuses.
Pope Pius IV confirmed the decisions of the Council of Trent with the papal bull “Benedictus Deus” on January 26, 1564, and demanded that Catholics strictly adhere to them, prohibiting any unauthorized interpretation under threat of excommunication, reserving this right only to the Pope.
