Final answer:
The Catholic Church reaffirmed its beliefs and gained power by ending simony with the investiture controversy, initiating the Catholic Reformation including the Council of Trent, and implementing structural reforms to counter corruption and improve clergy education.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ways the Catholic Church Reaffirmed Its Beliefs and Gained Power
Following the rise of Protestantism in the 1500s, the Catholic Church took decisive steps to reaffirm their belief system and regain power. The investiture controversy of the 11th century saw the Church consolidating power by eliminating simony and enforcing the Pope's right to appoint church officials. Pope Gregory VII's actions against Henry IV, the Holy Roman Emperor, highlighted the Church's dominance over temporal rulers.
In response to the Protestant Reformation, the Catholic Church initiated the Catholic Reformation (Counter-Reformation), which included the Council of Trent (1545), affirming the importance of both scripture and tradition, the doctrine of transubstantiation, and initiating reforms to address corruption and improve clergy education. Moreover, imposing institutions like the Inquisition and crusading against heretical movements helped to enforce Catholic orthodoxy and suppress dissent.
The Church's political influence continued as it engaged in building and decoration projects in Rome to reinforce its sacred image and authority. Despite the challenges and the rise of new Christian denominations, these efforts played a role in preserving the Church's influence on European societies and its members.