History: Indulgences

Indulgences were a common practice of Catholic church from before the middle ages through the sixteenth century. In particular, Pope Leo X granted a special jubilee indulgence to finance Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. However, religious reformers such as Martin Luther openly criticized the practice of paying for penance. Indulgences became a motivational force for religious reform, as they tended to underscore hypocrisy in the Catholic church.