History Commons^™

Session 2: Panel 1: Presenter 2 (Paper) -- Pope Leo X And The St. Peter’S Indulgence: The Accidental Path To Reformation And Church Fragmentation, Charlotte Levine

Young Historians Conference

Throughout the history of the Catholic Church, the concept of of Original Sin has defined prayer and ritual. As this idea evolved throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, its teachings proved to be profitable, as exemplified by the creation of indulgences. This paper examines the sale of indulgences for the rebuilding of St. Peter’s Basilica under the jurisdiction of Pope Leo X from 1515–1518, and its implications on the Catholic Church’s splintering authority in Western Europe. As a direct effect of the use of indulgences for financial gain, Martin Luther wrote and presented his Ninety Five Theses, an event widely …