The Catholic Church was in crisis mode - corruption and theological disputes had sparked the Protestant Reformation, and the Church needed a strong response. Pope Paul III called upon the Council of Trent, a gathering of high-ranking clergy, to reform the Church from within and mount a counter-attack against the Reformers. This council, which started on December 13, 1545, would become a defining moment in Catholic history, shaping Church doctrine, reaffirming traditional teachings, and sparking a renewed sense of Catholic identity.