The other side of the “Protestant Reformation”: the papacy in the context of the Luteran Schism

Abstract

The aim of this essay is to underline how the history of Papacy had a deep impact in the progressive conformation of Latin Canon Law, considering the notorious case study of the uncertain initial reaction against Lutheran Theses and Protestant Reformation during the Sixteenth Century. The main issue in that period
seemed to be the strong conflict between the Church and the ruling European Dynasties, but this tenacious antagonism probably made jurists and theologian scholars less careful about internal controversies in the doctrine of Christendom.

Keywords: Papacy; Protestant Reformation; History of Canon Law.