Expulsion of Martin Luther from the Church

Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther

Seeking to reform the Catholic Church, the monk and theology professor Martin Luther issued his 95 theses against indulgences in 1517. Disseminated rapidly by the printing press, his views were met with interest and approval throughout Germany. In Rome, Pope Leo X viewed Luther as a heretic and repeatedly called upon him to recant. Luther’s persistent refusal to do so resulted in the papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem on 3 January 1521, which excommunicated the recalcitrant monk. The ensuing Reformation saw the Catholic Church split into several denominations.