Pope Paul III was most interested in
preserving the Catholic Church and reforming it in response to the Protestant Reformation. This manifested in several key areas:
* Convening the Council of Trent: This was arguably his most significant act. He convened the Council of Trent in 1545, which addressed doctrinal issues raised by the Protestants, clarified Catholic teachings, and implemented reforms to address abuses within the Church.
* Combating Protestantism: He took steps to counter the spread of Protestantism, including supporting the Inquisition and approving new religious orders like the Jesuits (Society of Jesus), who were crucial in education and missionary work.
* Reforming the Papal Court: While not entirely successful, he made efforts to curb corruption and nepotism within the papal court, although his own family benefited from his patronage.
* Patronage of the Arts: Like many Renaissance popes, he was a patron of the arts, commissioning works from artists such as Michelangelo. However, this was secondary to his religious and political goals.
* Consolidating Papal Power: He aimed to strengthen the power and authority of the papacy in the face of challenges from both within and outside the Church.
In short, his primary focus was the defense and reform of the Catholic Church in the face of the Protestant Reformation.