Page "Pope Leo X" Paragraph 23

In response to concerns about misconduct from some servants of the church, in 1517 Martin Luther read his Ninety-Five Theses on the topic of indulgences in the church courtyard at Wittenberg.

Students took the theses, translated them from Latin to German, and through the printing press they spread throughout Europe.

Within two weeks, the theses had spread throughout Germany, and after two months they had spread throughout Europe.

Leo failed to fully comprehend the importance of the movement, and in February 1518 he directed the vicar-general of the Augustinians to impose silence on his monks.