How did the plague most affect how people felt about the Catholic Church?

Question

It strengthened people’s faith.
It caused people to feel a sense of distrust.
It made people think the church was powerful.
It led people to believe that the pope was unimportant.

Answer 1

The plague, particularly the Black Death in the 14th century, caused many people to feel a sense of distrust towards the Catholic Church. As the pandemic spread and millions died, many questioned the Church’s ability to protect them or provide meaning in such suffering. Despite the church's attempts to interpret the plague as a punishment from God or to grant indulgences for salvation, the failure of the clergy to adequately respond or offer comfort contributed to a decline in its authority and the rise of skepticism among the populace. Thus, the most accurate sentiment would be that it caused people to feel a sense of distrust.