Paul III (pope)
1468 – 1549 Italian Pope (1534-1549)
Pope who launched the Counter-Reformation, approved the Jesuits, and opened the Council of Trent.
- Religion
- Catholic; Bishop of Rome
- Affiliations
- The papacy
Paul III began the Catholic Counter-Reformation in earnest. He approved the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, under Ignatius of Loyola in 1540, set up the Roman Inquisition in 1542, and called the Council of Trent in 1545, the reforming council that answered the Protestant challenge and reshaped Catholicism for four centuries. He also commissioned Michelangelo's Last Judgment and made him chief architect of St. Peter's.
In the timeline
- 1540 Founding of the Society of Jesus mentioned
- 1540 Society of Jesus founded mentioned
- 1542 Roman Inquisition established mentioned
- 1545 – 1563 Council of Trent convened it