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The Council of Trent () was an Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church.

It is considered to be one of the Church's most important councils.

It convened in Trent ( the capital of the Prince-Bishopric of Trent of the Holy Roman Empire, in Italy ) between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods.

During the pontificate of Pope Paul III the Council fathers met for the first through eighth sessions in Trent ( 1545 – 7 ), and for the ninth through eleventh sessions in Bologna ( 1547 ).

Under Pope Julius III, the Council met in Trent ( 1551 – 52 ) for the twelfth through sixteenth sessions, and under Pope Pius IV, the seventeenth through twenty-fifth sessions took place in Trent ( 1559 – 63 ).