Name___________________________

Date________________________

Protestant Reformation Role Play

Historical Context: The time period when Europeans rebelled against the Catholic Church is called
the Protestant Reformation. This began when Martin Luther wrote a letter to his Archbishop (Albert of
Mainz) called the 95 Theses, an explanation of why Pope Leo Xs idea of selling indulgences was
wrong, against the Bible, and against the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Your task: You are being assigned a specific role from the Protestant Reformation. After reading your
role, you must decide what should happen to Martin Luther. Choose one or more consequences for
Martin Luther and explain why you think this should be his consequence on the lines below. After
this, you will be in a group with the other roles and you will all try to convince the Pope to make a
final decision. Whatever the Pope decides in final, but he is letting you have input.
Roles:
Pope Leo X
A priest who has worked with Martin Luther
A peasant who volunteers at Martin Luthers Catholic Church
The King of Saxony, a German land where Martin Luther lives and preaches
The Archbishop of Mainz, Germany (the region that includes Martin Luthers church)
You are a priest. You have worked with Martin Luther for many years and see his point about the
selling of indulgences. However, you also know that the Catholic Church provides you with a job and
if Luther gets blamed for this, you might also get blamed since you work with him in the church. But
you also come across the same problems of people getting indulgences and then thinking they are free
from all their sins. People continue to sin but think they can pay their way out of it. But if the church
doesnt sell indulgences, will they have enough money to keep paying all the priests? What if they
dont have enough money for your own job?
What should happen to Luther? Choose one or more consequences and explain why on the lines.
1)
2)
3)
4)

Martin Luther should be excommunicated (make it a sin for any Christian to talk to him)
Martin Luther should be exiled from his homeland in Saxony, Germany
Martin Luther should get a deal: if he recants (takes back) what he said, he can stay a monk
Start a Counter-Reformation. Make reforms like not selling indulgences, firing corrupt bishops
who use church money on themselves, and start Christian schools. Also arrest anti-Catholic
people. Torture them if needed to find enemies of the Catholic Church. This would be called
an Inquisition.

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Write down what the other roles in your group said should happen to Martin Luther
Role

Their arguments for what should happen to Martin Luther

What did your Pope Leo X finally decide and what was the reason for this consequence?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Name___________________________

Date________________________

Protestant Reformation Role Play

Historical Context: The time period when Europeans rebelled against the Catholic Church is called
the Protestant Reformation. This began when Martin Luther wrote a letter to his Archbishop (Albert of
Mainz) called the 95 Theses, an explanation of why Pope Leo Xs idea of selling indulgences was
wrong, against the Bible, and against the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Your task: You are being assigned a specific role from the Protestant Reformation. After reading your
role, you must decide what should happen to Martin Luther. Choose one or more consequences for
Martin Luther and explain why you think this should be his consequence on the lines below. After
this, you will be in a group with the other roles and you will all try to convince the Pope to make a
final decision. Whatever the Pope decides in final, but he is letting you have input.
Roles:
Pope Leo X
A priest who has worked with Martin Luther
A peasant who volunteers at Martin Luthers Catholic Church
The King of Saxony, a German land where Martin Luther lives and preaches
The Archbishop of Mainz, Germany (the region that includes Martin Luthers church)
You are the Archbishop of Mainz (a region of Germany). You are in charge of many churches,
including the one where Martin Luther preaches. The Pope will hold you responsible for what Martin
Luther does, because he is under your control, and he does not want people to spread Luthers ideas,
but it is too late printers have already printed his 95 Theses. Other priests you control are reading
Luthers words. You need to convince them that the Pope has the power to issue indulgences, and that
the Bible is ok with this. But some of these priests are starting to think that maybe the Catholic
Church is not the only way to believe in Jesus Christ maybe they can start their own churches that
are not Catholic. And remember, the Catholic Church has been good to you, you are rich and powerful
yourself. Someday, maybe you could even be the Pope
What should happen to Luther? Choose one or more consequences and explain why on the lines.
1) Martin Luther should be excommunicated (make it a sin for any Christian to talk to him)
2) Martin Luther should be exiled from his homeland in Saxony, Germany
3) Martin Luther should get a deal: if he recants (takes back) what he said, he can stay a monk

4) Start a Counter-Reformation. Make reforms like not selling indulgences, firing corrupt bishops
who use church money on themselves, and start Christian schools. Also arrest anti-Catholic
people. Torture them if needed to find enemies of the Catholic Church. This would be called
an Inquisition.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Write down what the other roles in your group said should happen to Martin Luther
Role

Their arguments for what should happen to Martin Luther

What did your Pope Leo X finally decide and what was the reason for this consequence?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Name___________________________

Date________________________

Protestant Reformation Role Play

Historical Context: The time period when Europeans rebelled against the Catholic Church is called
the Protestant Reformation. This began when Martin Luther wrote a letter to his Archbishop (Albert of
Mainz) called the 95 Theses, an explanation of why Pope Leo Xs idea of selling indulgences was
wrong, against the Bible, and against the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Your task: You are being assigned a specific role from the Protestant Reformation. After reading your
role, you must decide what should happen to Martin Luther. Choose one or more consequences for
Martin Luther and explain why you think this should be his consequence on the lines below. After
this, you will be in a group with the other roles and you will all try to convince the Pope to make a
final decision. Whatever the Pope decides in final, but he is letting you have input.
Roles:
Pope Leo X
A priest who has worked with Martin Luther
A peasant who volunteers at Martin Luthers Catholic Church
The King of Saxony, a German land where Martin Luther lives and preaches
The Archbishop of Mainz, Germany (the region that includes Martin Luthers church)

You are Pope Leo X. Martin Luthers 95 Theses are ruing your reputation, since he criticizes you. He
is also criticizing one of the best ways of making money the Church has ever had selling
indulgences. You cannot let him continue to speak such blasphemy against the Catholic Church. You
could surely excommunicate him, but he is now talking about making his own Lutheran Church,
where people can read the Bible on their own and have a personal relationship with God without any
priest needing to be involved. If Luther does this, then maybe others will do it too, and youll have an
even bigger problem on your hands. You could get help from the King of Saxony, where Luther lives,
to try to silence him, or you could try
What should happen to Luther? Choose one or more consequences and explain why on the lines.
1)
2)
3)
4)

Martin Luther should be excommunicated (make it a sin for any Christian to talk to him)
Martin Luther should be exiled from his homeland in Saxony, Germany
Martin Luther should get a deal: if he recants (takes back) what he said, he can stay a monk
Start a Counter-Reformation. Make reforms like not selling indulgences, firing corrupt bishops
who use church money on themselves, and start Christian schools. Also arrest anti-Catholic
people. Torture them if needed to find enemies of the Catholic Church. This would be called
an Inquisition.

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Write down what the other roles in your group said should happen to Martin Luther
Role

Their arguments for what should happen to Martin Luther

What did your Pope Leo X finally decide and what was the reason for this consequence?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Name___________________________

Date________________________

Protestant Reformation Role Play

Historical Context: The time period when Europeans rebelled against the Catholic Church is called
the Protestant Reformation. This began when Martin Luther wrote a letter to his Archbishop (Albert of

Mainz) called the 95 Theses, an explanation of why Pope Leo Xs idea of selling indulgences was
wrong, against the Bible, and against the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Your task: You are being assigned a specific role from the Protestant Reformation. After reading your
role, you must decide what should happen to Martin Luther. Choose one or more consequences for
Martin Luther and explain why you think this should be his consequence on the lines below. After
this, you will be in a group with the other roles and you will all try to convince the Pope to make a
final decision. Whatever the Pope decides in final, but he is letting you have input.
Roles:
Pope Leo X
A priest who has worked with Martin Luther
A peasant who volunteers at Martin Luthers Catholic Church
The King of Saxony, a German land where Martin Luther lives and preaches
The Archbishop of Mainz, Germany (the region that includes Martin Luthers church)
You are a peasant who volunteers at the Catholic Church where Martin Luther preaches. You
know this man as being very kind and generous, and you are confused about why people are against
him. You know that selling indulgences seems wrong, and you love hearing Martin Luther preach in
church he really does well when he has freedom of speech. But you also trust that the Pope is Gods
messenger on earth and knows what the truth is. But something about selling indulgences seems
wrong. Maybe the Pope will change his mind about selling indulgences so Martin Luther can go free?
Or maybe if the Pope knew how Martin Luther is such a good Christian, he would reconsider how he
feels about him? Or maybe we can convince Martin Luther to take back what he said? Because you
know him, you could maybe try to talk to him
What should happen to Luther? Choose one or more consequences and explain why on the lines.
1)
2)
3)
4)

Martin Luther should be excommunicated (make it a sin for any Christian to talk to him)
Martin Luther should be exiled from his homeland in Saxony, Germany
Martin Luther should get a deal: if he recants (takes back) what he said, he can stay a monk
Start a Counter-Reformation. Make reforms like not selling indulgences, firing corrupt bishops
who use church money on themselves, and start Christian schools. Also arrest anti-Catholic
people. Torture them if needed to find enemies of the Catholic Church. This would be called
an Inquisition.

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Write down what the other roles in your group said should happen to Martin Luther

Role

Their arguments for what should happen to Martin Luther

What did your Pope Leo X finally decide and what was the reason for this consequence?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Name___________________________

Date________________________

Protestant Reformation Role Play

Historical Context: The time period when Europeans rebelled against the Catholic Church is called
the Protestant Reformation. This began when Martin Luther wrote a letter to his Archbishop (Albert of
Mainz) called the 95 Theses, an explanation of why Pope Leo Xs idea of selling indulgences was
wrong, against the Bible, and against the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Your task: You are being assigned a specific role from the Protestant Reformation. After reading your
role, you must decide what should happen to Martin Luther. Choose one or more consequences for
Martin Luther and explain why you think this should be his consequence on the lines below. After
this, you will be in a group with the other roles and you will all try to convince the Pope to make a
final decision. Whatever the Pope decides in final, but he is letting you have input.
Roles:
Pope Leo X
A priest who has worked with Martin Luther
A peasant who volunteers at Martin Luthers Catholic Church
The King of Saxony, a German land where Martin Luther lives and preaches
The Archbishop of Mainz, Germany (the region that includes Martin Luthers church)
You are the King of Saxony, the German land where Martin Luther lives. You are friends with the
Pope, but you also want to make sure that people know you are the boss of your kingdom. You want to
simply obey the Pope, but Martin Luther is a great professor who makes lots of people come to
Saxony to learn, study, invent things, and trade. Hes famous, and he lives in your kingdom, so you are
kind of famous too. The Pope is telling you to send soldiers out to find Martin Luther, and you could
do this, but you also dont want to be bossed around by the Pope. If you could convince him to change
his mind without directly fighting against him, that would be the best solution. Or you could just
become Protestant yourself and risk other Catholic kings fighting against you.
What should happen to Luther? Choose one or more consequences and explain why on the lines.
1)
2)
3)
4)

Martin Luther should be excommunicated (make it a sin for any Christian to talk to him)
Martin Luther should be exiled from his homeland in Saxony, Germany
Martin Luther should get a deal: if he recants (takes back) what he said, he can stay a monk
Start a Counter-Reformation. Make reforms like not selling indulgences, firing corrupt bishops
who use church money on themselves, and start Christian schools. Also arrest anti-Catholic
people. Torture them if needed to find enemies of the Catholic Church. This would be called
an Inquisition.

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Write down what the other roles in your group said should happen to Martin Luther
Role

Their arguments for what should happen to Martin Luther

What did your Pope Leo X finally decide and what was the reason for this consequence?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________