Diet of Worms

On 3 January 1521, Luther was officially excommunicated by papal bull. Exile from the Holy Roman Empire was the inevitable consequence according to the laws of the time. But before Luther was cast out, the 21-year-old Emperor Charles V gave him another chance to recant in order to placate the German princes. He promised him safe passage to the Diet of Worms, where he would be questioned about his books. Luther is said to have defended himself with these famous words: "Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen." Although they are not included in contemporary accounts of his speech to the Diet, this does not change the fact that Luther refused to back down.

Given Luther's widespread popularity among the people and the princes, the Emperor did not dare exile him immediately. The Edict of Worms that declared Luther an imperial outlaw was only issued after his departure. Frederick the Wise had Luther "abducted" and taken to Wartburg Castle in Eisenach for his own safety. Luther remained in hiding there for ten months under the alias "Squire George" and translated the New Testament into German.

In March 1522, Luther returned to Wittenberg to call a halt to the growing unrest and vandalism of statues and images in the churches. Over a period of eight days, he put an end to the iconoclasm by preaching what became known as the Invocavit Sermons.