His challenge to the authority and elitism of the Catholic church was translated into German and other European languages. Rome condemned Luther as a heretic and launched the Counter-Reformation, but by the end of the 16th century most of northern Europe was Protestant. A spokesperson for the Catholic church in England and Wales said: “The desire for reconciliation is such that mistakes can be recognised, injuries can be forgiven and wounds healed. Meanwhile, pockets of sectarianism remain in parts of northern Europe, including Northern Ireland and Scotland. It concluded: “The issues that gave birth to the Reformation 500 years ago are still very much alive in the 21st century for the whole church.”

Source: The Guardian October 31, 2017 06:00 UTC