The Catholic Reformation, which started in 1517,was a great 16th-century religious revolution in the Christian Church. This ended that pope's reign in the Western hemisphere, and resulted in the establishment of the Protestant Churches. With the Renaissance occurring before the reformation and the French revolution after, the Catholic reformation completely altered the medieval way of life in Western Europe and initiated the era of modern history. Martin Luther and John Wycliff were key role players in the Catholic reformation.

This essay will focus on why the Catholic church of the 16th century was in need of reform. This is because "absolute power will corrupt absolutely," a phrase written by Lord Acton in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887. With no competition, one will forget their goals and become self-centered. Their focus changed to more material concepts. This "corruption" is evident through the rest of this essay and...