Martin Luther, a German monk, began questioning Catholic Church doctrine after nearly being struck by lightning. He believed salvation came through faith alone, not indulgences or payments to the church. Luther published 95 Theses criticizing indulgences and other church policies, which spread widely and led to declining indulgence sales. When the Pope tried to persuade Luther to withdraw his criticisms and he refused, Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic Church. This split helped establish Lutheranism, which focused on faith alone, preaching the Bible in native languages, and allowing all people to serve God.