What was the Catholic Church's response to the Protestant Reformation known as?

The Catholic Church's response to the Protestant Reformation is known as the Counter Reformation. This movement aimed to address the issues raised by Protestant reformers and to reaffirm Catholic doctrines and practices.

During the Counter Reformation, the Church implemented significant reforms internally, such as the establishment of new religious orders, including the Jesuits, who were dedicated to education and missionary work. The Council of Trent was another crucial component, where Catholic leaders came together to clarify Catholic teachings and make reforms to counteract the challenges posed by the Protestant movement. These efforts sought to strengthen the Catholic faith and re-establish the church's influence in Europe, ultimately shaping the religious landscape for centuries to come.

In contrast, the other choices reflect different historical movements or events: the Enlightenment was an intellectual movement emphasizing reason and science; the Spanish Inquisition was a period of religious persecution aimed particularly at conversos and Jews in Spain; and the Conciliar Movement sought to address Church governance and corruption but is not specifically associated with the response to the Protestant Reformation.