Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms

On April 16, 1521, Martin Luther arrived at the Diet of Worms to discuss his 95 Theses with the Emperor Charles V. Much to his surprise, Luther discovered there would be no debate. This was a trial, and Luther’s only option was to recant.

Luther was standing before Charles because the archbishop of Mainz had hired Johann Tetzel to sell indulgences toward the rebuilding of St. Peter’s Cathedral. Tetzel became a very effective salesman using every manipulative technique he knew. When Luther heard of his activities, he attacked him with the 95 Theses.

Within weeks, copies of Luther's theses were circulating throughout Germany, reducing the sale of indulgences to almost nothing. This angered the Pope and he summoned Luther to stand trial in Rome. Luther appealed to the German ruler who arranged for him to be tried in Germany. In 1518, Luther was tried at Augsburg and ordered to recant. Instead he burned the Pope's sentence in a public bonfire—an act of defiance against the Pope that stirred the whole German nation.

So now, he was standing before the most powerful political leader in all of Europe. He asked for a day to consider his course.

The next day Luther gave his short speech with fear and trembling.

“Unless I am refuted and convicted by testimonies of the Scriptures or by clear arguments since I believe neither the Pope nor the Councils alone; it being evident that they have often erred and contradicted themselves, I am conquered by the Holy Scriptures quoted by me, and my conscience is bound in the word of God: I can not and will not recant any thing, since it is unsafe and dangerous to do any thing against the conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me!”