Protestant groups developed, Church leaders reformed the Catholic Church. Anti-Semitism increased and religious conflicts spread across Europe.
The Counter-Reformation served to solidify doctrine that many Protestants were opposed to, such as the authority of the pope and the veneration of saints, and eliminated many of the abuses and problems that had initially inspired the Reformation, such as the sale of indulgences for the remission of sin.
Leo III initiated a ban on the use of images for worship
Leo III accomplished many military milestones which made him popular and also gave him the confidence to pursue his religious policies. By banning the use of religious images, Leo II provoked a century of conflict within the empire