Paul III
The pope who declared the peoples of the Americas free in 1537, approved the Society of Jesus in 1540 and summoned the Council of Trent, which opened in 1545.
In the bull Sublimis Deus of 1537 Paul III declared that the Indians are truly men and are not to be deprived of their liberty or property or enslaved (Paul III, Sublimis Deus paragraphs 3–4); see Rome Declares the Peoples of the Americas Free. In 1540 he approved the Society of Jesus Is Founded, limiting it to sixty members (Paul III, Regimini militantis Ecclesiae §§ 1, 16).
His bull of 22 May 1542 summoning a general council to Trent tells of his earlier attempts to hold one at Mantua and at Vicenza and of his journey to Nice to make peace between the emperor and the king of France (Council of Trent Bull of indiction (22 May 1542)). The Council of Trent opened under him on 13 December 1545 (Council of Trent Session 1). When it resumed in 1551 it was under his successor Julius III (Council of Trent Session 11).
In the timeline
- 2 June 1537, firm dateRome Declares the Peoples of the Americas Free
In the bull Sublimis Deus Pope Paul III declares that the peoples of the Americas are truly human, capable of the Christian faith, and not to be enslaved or deprived of their property. Las Casas and the Crown’s own laws show that enslavement went on.
- 27 September 1540, firm dateThe Society of Jesus Is Founded
Pope Paul III approves the Society of Jesus, a company of ten priests, masters of the University of Paris, led by Ignatius of Loyola. Its members vow poverty, chastity and obedience, with a special vow to go wherever the pope sends them.
- 1545 to 1563, firm dateThe Council of Trent
In twenty-five sessions spread over eighteen years, the Catholic bishops assembled at Trent define their church’s teaching on Scripture and tradition, justification and the sacraments, and decree a reform of the clergy.
Primary sources
Sublimis Deus
- Paul III, Sublimis Deus paragraphs 3–4papalencyclicals.net
The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent
- Council of Trent Bull of indiction (22 May 1542)papalencyclicals.net
- Council of Trent Session 1papalencyclicals.net
- Council of Trent Session 11papalencyclicals.net