The Diet takes place in April 1521 not in Rome but on German soil in front of the emperor Charles V. They pile up his books on a table and they ask him if these are his. He says yes all of them. Are you ready to recant? Luther says some of these are sermons. If I recant them I am revoking the gospel. I cannot do that. No one refutes him or tells him why he is wrong. This is what he points out in his reply. They press him again, “will you recant?”
Luther answers:
“Unless I am convinced by the testimony of scripture or by clear reason, for I do not trust in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves, I am bound by the scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the word of God. I cannot and I will not retract anything since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience.”
The following words were added later in a written document:
“Here I stand I cannot do otherwise so help me God”