Papal revival: Paul III; report into the state of the Church; the Roman…

The idea

The papal revival transformed the Catholic Church from a defensive institution into a proactive force. Pope Paul III initiated this by commissioning the 1537 report into the state of the Church (Consilium de Emendanda Ecclesia), which frankly exposed clerical abuses and absenteeism, providing a blueprint for reform. He also established the Roman Inquisition in 1542 to systematically root out heresy, particularly in the Italian peninsula. The revival continued under Paul IV, whose uncompromising, anti-Spanish stance and expansion of the Inquisition enforced strict doctrinal purity, albeit through fear. Finally, Pius IV consolidated these efforts by successfully reconvening and concluding the Council of Trent, ensuring the implementation of sweeping administrative and spiritual reforms across the Catholic world.

What earns the marks

• Assess Paul III's role in initiating reform, specifically commissioning the Consilium de Emendanda Ecclesia and establishing the Roman Inquisition.
• Evaluate the impact of the Consilium, noting how it acknowledged internal corruption but was initially suppressed to prevent Protestant exploitation.
• Analyse the function and effectiveness of the Roman Inquisition in suppressing heresy and enforcing orthodoxy within Italy.
• Compare the approaches of Paul IV, who relied on the Inquisition and the Index of Prohibited Books, with Pius IV, who focused on concluding the Council of Trent.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Confusing the Roman Inquisition with the Spanish Inquisition.

  Put it right by specifying that the Roman Inquisition was established in 1542 by Paul III specifically to combat Protestantism in Italy.

• Assuming the Consilium de Emendanda Ecclesia led to immediate, widespread reform.

  Put it right by noting it was initially shelved because its frank admission of abuses was deemed too damaging if publicised.

• Viewing Paul IV and Pius IV as having identical reform strategies.

  Put it right by contrasting Paul IV's autocratic, Inquisition-led terror with Pius IV's diplomatic success in concluding the Council of Trent.

Exam tips

• Use the Consilium de Emendanda Ecclesia as concrete evidence of the papacy acknowledging its own institutional failings before the Council of Trent.
• Contrast the methods of Paul III, Paul IV and Pius IV to demonstrate the evolving nature of the papal revival and Catholic Reformation.
• When discussing the Roman Inquisition, evaluate its success in eradicating Italian Protestantism as a key achievement of the papal revival.