Council of Trent

The Council of Trent was a major Catholic Church assembly held between 1545 and 1563 in Trent, Italy. Its main purpose was to address the challenges posed by the Protestant Reformation, clarify Catholic doctrines, and reform church practices. The council affirmed the importance of tradition alongside the Bible, reinforced the role of the sacraments, and addressed issues like clerical discipline and the sale of indulgences. The decisions made at the Council of Trent significantly shaped the Catholic Church’s approach and teachings, leading to the Counter-Reformation, which aimed to regain influence and assert Catholicism's integrity amidst Protestant criticisms.