The Anchor Gospel Ministry

On this day, January 3^rd in 1521 Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Leo X. The papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem, formally excommunicated Martin Luther. This followed Luther’s refusal to recant the 95 Theses and other writings. The excommunication escalated the Reformation and led directly toward the Diet of Worms later that year (April 1521), where Luther delivered his famous defence.

This is significant because it marked the point of no return between Rome and the Reformation. It was the catalyze for the formation of Protestant churches across Europe, which elevated Scripture over papal authority as the central Reformation principle.