According to Luther, who should lead the reform of the Church?

Luther believed that the reform of the Church should be led by German rulers, reflecting his emphasis on the role of secular authorities in supporting the Protestant movement. He viewed princes and kings as potential protectors of the Reformation. Luther believed that since the Church had strayed from its true purpose, it was imperative for local leaders—who had a vested interest in the welfare of their subjects—to rise and assume responsibility for the reform of religious practices and beliefs. This alignment was especially critical in the context of the political landscape of the time, where local rulers could enact changes without needing approval from the papacy.

Luther’s viewpoint was rooted in a broader theological assertion that Christians should read the Bible themselves and interpret it without the mediation of the clergy, which disrupted the traditional hierarchical structure of the Church. By empowering the rulers, he sought to establish a partnership where political authority could support the ecclesiastical reforms that he advocated, creating a more accessible and personal form of Christianity. This notion was a significant departure from the prevailing idea that the Pope or religious leaders should guide the Church's reforms.