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How did the papacy reform the church and What were the reactions to these efforts?

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Final answer:

The Catholic Reformation, also called the Counter-Reformation, was the Catholic Church's effort to address the challenges posed by Martin Luther and other reformers during the Protestant Reformation. The reforms included the Council of Trent, which reaffirmed the importance of faith and good works, addressed corruption, and implemented educational reforms for clergy. Reactions to the reform efforts varied, with some supporting the changes and others opposing them.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Catholic Reformation, also known as the Counter-Reformation, was a series of efforts by the Catholic Church to address challenges posed by Martin Luther and other reformers during the Protestant Reformation. One of the main reforms was the Council of Trent, held in 1545. The council affirmed the importance of both faith and good works for salvation and established that scripture and tradition were sources of authority. The council also took steps to address corruption within the church, such as forbidding the sale of indulgences and implementing educational reforms for clergy.

The reactions to these reform efforts varied. Some people, particularly in Catholic countries, welcomed the changes and supported the revitalization of the Catholic Church. They saw the reforms as necessary to address the criticisms and challenges raised by the Protestant reformers. However, there were also those who resisted the reforms and opposed the efforts to centralize authority within the church, fearing a loss of power and influence. Additionally, Protestant reformers continued to reject many of the Catholic Church's teachings, leading to ongoing conflicts between Catholics and Protestants.