# Council of Trent opens (1545)

URL: https://christianity-history.com/timeline/1545-council-of-trent-opens
Location: Trento, Italy
Themes: Council

The council defines Catholic doctrine against Protestantism and launches reform. At this point in the timeline (13 December 1545), the Bishop of Rome was Pope Paul III (13 October 1534 – 10 November 1549).

## Why it matters
Council of Trent opens mattered because its decisions defined doctrine, discipline or church order for generations of Christians.

Pope at the time: [Pope Paul III](https://christianity-history.com/popes/pope-paul-iii)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Council of Trent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Trent)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Council of Trent opens](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Council+of+Trent+opens)
- [Wikipedia — Reformation (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation)