Pope Paul III called for the council.
Pope Paul III convened the Council of Trent in 1545.
I believe it was summoned by Pope Paul III because when he was elected Pope, he promised (to French Bishops in exchange for their vote?) to summon a council.
The Council of Trent was convened by Pope Paul III on December 13, 1545, and concluded on December 4, 1563.
The Council of Trent
Council of Trent
Although the Pope called the Council of Trent, he didn't play an active role or attend. At the first Council of Trent , 31 out of a total of 700 bishops attended , and 50 theologians showed up. By the second meeting, 270 bishops, mostly Italian attended.
The major players at the Council of Trent were Pope Paul III, who called for the council, and key figures such as Cardinal Giovanni Morone and Cardinal Reginald Pole. The council was attended by bishops, theologians, and papal legates who played significant roles in shaping the decisions and reforms of the council.
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the council of trent
The reigning pope, at the beginning of the Council, Pope Paul III, called and approved the Council. He and his successors oversaw the Council, primarily through their representatives, they did not personally attend the Council.
The Council of Trent was held to address the Protestant Reformation and to reform and clarify the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church. It aimed to define Catholic doctrine, address abuses within the Church, and assert the authority of the Pope.
The Council of Trent reaffirmed the authority of the Pope as the supreme leader of the Catholic Church. It emphasized the Pope's role in defining and interpreting Church doctrine, while also asserting that general councils could be called by the Pope and were authoritative in certain matters. This helped clarify the relationship between papal and conciliar authority within the Church.