Question

What was Rome like during the counter-reformation.

Answer 1

Paul III (pope from 1534 to 1549) was born Alexander Farnese and sympathised with the reform movement mainly because he feared that the spread of Protestantism would greatly weaken Papal authority. At the age of 25 he became a cardinal before becoming a priest! In 1536, he appointed nine cardinals to investigate the state of the church. Their report was open and frank. It condemned the most obvious abuses and "the reckless exaggeration of Papal authority". The report clearly stated that the quality of the clergy had to be improved. It wanted priests and bishops to be resident; benefices to be awarded on merit alone; and greater care in the selection of candidates. The report also called for enclosed contemplative orders to be abolished and it wanted all publishing to be under the control of ecclesiastical censors. Paul III approved the report but he did little about it. He did, however, encourage new orders such as the Jesuits, Barnabites and Ursulines. In July 1542, he established the Roman Inquisition ("The Holy Office") led by Cardinal Caraffa, which was to herald an offensive against heresy. Paul III did favour liberals and he sent Contarini to Regensburg. However, the Papacy rejected Contarini’s proposals.

Answer 2

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/Popes-and-the-Counter-Reformation.htm

Answer 3

Until recently, historians tended to stress the negative and repressive elements in this movement, such as the Inquisition and the Index of Forbidden Books, and to concentrate their attention on its political, military, and diplomatic aspects.