Final answer:
The Catholic Church met the challenge of Protestantism with the Counter-Reformation, which included the Council of Trent to reform and clarify doctrine, leading to religious conflicts and a split in Christianity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Catholic Response to Protestantism
The challenge of Protestantism was met by the Catholic Church with a multifaceted response during the Catholic Reformation, also known as the Counter-Reformation. This period of religious upheaval began with figures like Martin Luther in 1517 and continued throughout the 16th century, with Protestant beliefs spreading across Europe. In response, the Catholic Church convened the Council of Trent in 1545 as part of its reforms. The council confirmed the importance of faith and good works for salvation, the significance of church tradition alongside scripture, affirmed the doctrine of transubstantiation, and introduced measures to correct clerical abuse and to improve the education of clergy.
Wars of religion broke out across Europe, as Catholic and Protestant forces clashed over their deeply held beliefs. The spread of Protestantism influenced global politics and colonization, as different states promoted their religious convictions abroad.
Over time, despite the Council's decrees and the efforts to eradicate Protestantism, particularly by Spain, the new Protestant churches continued to gain followers. This led to a permanently fragmented Christian Europe.