This week in Christian history: Battle of Hattin, Augsburg Interim, Martin Luther critic becomes cardinal
Martin Luther's opponent made cardinal – July 1, 1517
This week marks the anniversary of when Tommaso de Vio Gaetani Cajetan, a Catholic Church official who debated Protestant Reformation leader Martin Luther, was elevated to the rank of cardinal.
Born to a noble family in Gaeta, Italy, Cajetan joined the Dominican order and was elevated to the rank of cardinal by Pope Leo X, mere months before Luther nailed his 95 theses to a church door in Wittenberg, starting the Reformation.
In October 1518 in Augsburg, Cajetan debated Luther in person over three days regarding the merits of the latter’s theses against the Church, with Luther refusing to recant his views.
“Cajetan has been described as small in bodily stature but gigantic in intellect,” noted the Catholic Encyclopedia. “In all his varied and laborious offices he never omitted his daily study and writing, nor failed in the practices of the religious life.”
“He faced the trying issues of his times calmly and fearlessly, and endeavored by learning, tact, and charity to pacify hostile minds, to lead back the erring, to stem the tide of heresy, and to prevent schism.”
