“Worms” was the name of the  German where the “diet,” an assembly of Catholic religious leaders, gathered to discuss the problem of Martin Luther and his Protestant movement. Luther had already famously nailed his “95 Theses” to the door of Castle Church of Wittenberg in Germany, as was the custom in those days, and in response Pope Leo X issued his 41-point rebuttal. Now the Diet would serve as an unofficial, religious, court to the rebel.

On this day, April 17, in 1521, Martin Luther appeared before Diet and confronted with a copy of his works, which he freely admitted writing. He was given a chance to renounce them, and asked to give his response the next day. When the diet reconvened in the morning, Luther gave his famous reply.

Luther said he could not renounce his faith. “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God,” he said. “I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen.”