As trainee pastor, what is the historical background of counter Reformation, please in simple English?

The Counter-Reformation was a period in the 16th century when the Catholic Church tried to respond to the Protestant Reformation. The Protestant Reformation was a movement that challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and led to the creation of new Christian denominations.

During the Counter-Reformation, the Catholic Church made efforts to reform itself and address some of the criticisms raised by the Protestant reformers. This included holding the Council of Trent, which clarified Catholic teachings and practices, as well as launching missions to spread Catholicism to new areas of the world.

The Counter-Reformation also saw the rise of new religious orders, such as the Jesuits, who played a key role in promoting Catholicism and combating the spread of Protestantism. Overall, the Counter-Reformation was a period of renewal and reform for the Catholic Church in response to the challenges posed by the Protestant Reformation.