The beginning of the sixteenth century witnessed a fast and broad disintegration of the Roman Catholic Church in some parts of Europe. The process, initiated by Martin Luther in 1517, resulted in the birth of numerous sects and heresies among Luther's countless followers. Eight years after Luther put forth questions concerning the selling of indulgences (that is, partial remission of punishment for sin after death), the German-speaking regions of Europe broke away from the Catholic Church and converted to Lutheranism. The Church did not have a plan for opposing what came to be called the Reformation, which attracted numerous people daily. Attempts to isolate Luther and his followers failed. Instead of reuniting Christianity, papal actions brought no results. Political forces, in particular, the Holy Roman Emperor, were not successful either. For a long time suggestions that the Church should summon a council as its highest authority to solve the problem were ignored for religious and political reasons.