Excommunication of Martin Luther

Date: January 3, 1521 • Location: Rome, Italy

Pope Leo X issued the papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem, excommunicating Martin Luther for refusing to retract 41 alleged errors found in his 95 Theses and other writings.

Pope Leo X was head of the Catholic Church and leader of the Papal States from 9 March 1513 to his death in December 1521.