How did the pope react to the idea of predestination?

The Pope's reaction to the idea of predestination has historically varied depending on the context and the specific theological debates at hand. During the Reformation, figures like Pope Leo X and later popes emphasized free will and the necessity of human cooperation with divine grace, countering the deterministic implications of strict predestination as articulated by some Protestant reformers. The Catholic Church maintains that while God’s grace is essential for salvation, human free will plays a crucial role in accepting that grace. In more recent times, the Church has reaffirmed this balance, emphasizing God's mercy and the universal call to salvation.