Diet of Worms

The Diet of Worms was a general assembly (a Diet) of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire that took place in Worms, a small town on the Rhine river located in what is now Germany. It was conducted from January 28 to May 25, 1521, with Emperor Charles V presiding. Although other issues were dealt with at the Diet of Worms, it is most memorable for addressing Martin Luther and the effects on the Protestant Reformation.

Luther's Defense

Emperor Charles V opened the imperial Diet of Worms on January 22, 1521. Luther was summoned to renounce or reaffirm his views. When he appeared before the assembly on April 16, Johann Eck, an assistant of Archbishop of Trier, acted as spokesman for the Emperor. He presented Luther with a table filled with copies of his writings. Eck asked Luther if the books were his and if he still believed what these works taught. Luther requested time to think about his answer. It was granted.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Luther prayed, consulted with friends and mediators and presented himself before the Diet the next day. When the counselor put the same questions to Luther, he said: "They are all mine, but as for the second question, they are not all of one sort." Luther went on to say that some of the works were well received by even his enemies. These he would not reject.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The second category of his books attacked the abuses, lies and desolation of the Christian world. These, Luther believed, could not safely be rejected without encouraging abuses to continue.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The third group contained attacks on individuals. He apologized for the harsh tone of these writings, but did not reject the substance of what he taught in them. If he could be shown from the Scriptures that he was in error, Luther continued, he would reject them. Otherwise, he could not do so safely without encouraging abuse.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Counsellor Eck, after countering that Luther had no right to teach contrary to the Church through the ages, asked Luther to plainly answer the question: "Would Luther reject his books and the errors they contain?"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Luther replied: "Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason?I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other?my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

According to tradition, Luther is then said to have spoken these words: "Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen." Many scholars question whether these famous words were actually spoken, since they do not appear in any account written at the time of the Diet.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Private conferences were held to determine Luther's fate. Before a decision was reached, Luther left Worms. During his return to Wittenberg, he disappeared.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Emperor issued the Edict of Worms on May 25, 1521, declaring Martin Luther an outlaw and a heretic and banning his literature.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~