FACES OF THE REFORMATION FACES OF THE REFORMATION The leader of the Roman Catholic The leader of the Roman Catholic Church who saw Luther as just Church who saw Luther as just another heretic to easily dismiss another heretic to easily dismiss Pope Leo X Giovanni de’ Medici was a member Pope Leo X Giovanni de’ Medici was a member (a.k.a. Giovanni de’ of the famous Medici household (a.k.a. Giovanni de’ of the famous Medici household Medici) in Florence, Italy. His father, Lorenzo the Medici) in Florence, Italy. His father, Lorenzo the Magnificent, raised his sons to be patrons of the arts. Magnificent, raised his sons to be patrons of the arts. Born: Dec. 11, 1475 | As the second son, Giovanni was steered to a life Born: Dec. 11, 1475 | As the second son, Giovanni was steered to a life Florence, Italy within the church. Due to his family’s connections, he Florence, Italy within the church. Due to his family’s connections, he was named a cardinal at age 17 and became pope at 37, was named a cardinal at age 17 and became pope at 37, Died: Dec. 1, 1521 | taking the name Leo X. Died: Dec. 1, 1521 | taking the name Leo X. Rome, Italy Leo continued the work of his predecessor in building Rome, Italy Leo continued the work of his predecessor in building St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and soon found himself in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and soon found himself in financial straits due to his extravagant construction financial straits due to his extravagant construction spending and costly wars with France. To raise money, spending and costly wars with France. To raise money, he approved the sale of indulgences (the practice of he approved the sale of indulgences (the practice of purchasing a document of forgiveness). This caused purchasing a document of forgiveness). This caused Martin Luther to fear for the souls of his flock in Martin Luther to fear for the souls of his flock in Wittenberg, Germany. If forgiveness could be bought, Wittenberg, Germany. If forgiveness could be bought, true contrition for sin would be lost. Luther sought true contrition for sin would be lost. Luther sought a public debate on the topic when he posted his 95 a public debate on the topic when he posted his 95 Theses. Little did Leo know that his legacy would Theses. Little did Leo know that his legacy would not be the building of the basilica or his political not be the building of the basilica or his political maneuverings, but his refusal to truly listen to the maneuverings, but his refusal to truly listen to the LutheranReformation.org concerns of a little-known monk from Wittenberg. LutheranReformation.org concerns of a little-known monk from Wittenberg. THE LUTHERAN CHURCH—MISSOURI SYNOD THE LUTHERAN CHURCH—MISSOURI SYNOD ConcordiaHistoricalInstitute.org ConcordiaHistoricalInstitute.org © 2016 LCMS © 2016 LCMS FACES OF THE REFORMATION FACES OF THE REFORMATION The leader of the Roman Catholic The leader of the Roman Catholic Church who saw Luther as just Church who saw Luther as just another heretic to easily dismiss another heretic to easily dismiss Pope Leo X Giovanni de’ Medici was a member Pope Leo X Giovanni de’ Medici was a member (a.k.a. Giovanni de’ of the famous Medici household (a.k.a. Giovanni de’ of the famous Medici household Medici) in Florence, Italy. His father, Lorenzo the Medici) in Florence, Italy. His father, Lorenzo the Magnificent, raised his sons to be patrons of the arts. Magnificent, raised his sons to be patrons of the arts. Born: Dec. 11, 1475 | As the second son, Giovanni was steered to a life Born: Dec. 11, 1475 | As the second son, Giovanni was steered to a life Florence, Italy within the church. Due to his family’s connections, he Florence, Italy within the church. Due to his family’s connections, he was named a cardinal at age 17 and became pope at 37, was named a cardinal at age 17 and became pope at 37, Died: Dec. 1, 1521 | taking the name Leo X. Died: Dec. 1, 1521 | taking the name Leo X. Rome, Italy Leo continued the work of his predecessor in building Rome, Italy Leo continued the work of his predecessor in building St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and soon found himself in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and soon found himself in financial straits due to his extravagant construction financial straits due to his extravagant construction spending and costly wars with France. To raise money, spending and costly wars with France. To raise money, he approved the sale of indulgences (the practice of he approved the sale of indulgences (the practice of purchasing a document of forgiveness). This caused purchasing a document of forgiveness). This caused Martin Luther to fear for the souls of his flock in Martin Luther to fear for the souls of his flock in Wittenberg, Germany. If forgiveness could be bought, Wittenberg, Germany. If forgiveness could be bought, true contrition for sin would be lost. Luther sought true contrition for sin would be lost. Luther sought a public debate on the topic when he posted his 95 a public debate on the topic when he posted his 95 Theses. Little did Leo know that his legacy would Theses. Little did Leo know that his legacy would not be the building of the basilica or his political not be the building of the basilica or his political maneuverings, but his refusal to truly listen to the maneuverings, but his refusal to truly listen to the LutheranReformation.org concerns of a little-known monk from Wittenberg. LutheranReformation.org concerns of a little-known monk from Wittenberg. THE LUTHERAN CHURCH—MISSOURI SYNOD THE LUTHERAN CHURCH—MISSOURI SYNOD ConcordiaHistoricalInstitute.org ConcordiaHistoricalInstitute.org © 2016 LCMS © 2016 LCMS.