Editing Peter Martyr Vermigli (section)

===First controversial preaching and ministry in Lucca (1537–1541)===
The Congregation elected Vermigli abbot of the monastery at [[San Pietro ad Aram, Naples]] in 1537.{{sfn|McLelland|2009a|p=30}} There he became acquainted with [[Juan de Valdés]], a leader of the ''[[spirituali]]'' movement.{{sfn|Kirby|2009|p=136}} Valdés introduced Vermigli to the writings of Protestant reformers.{{sfn|Taplin|2004}} Toward the end of his time in Naples, he read [[Martin Bucer]]'s commentaries on the [[Gospel]]s and the [[Psalms]], and [[Huldrych Zwingli|Zwingli]]'s ''{{ill|De vera et falsa religione|de|Commentarius de vera et falsa religione}}''.{{sfnm|Steinmetz|2001|1p=107|James|1998|2pp=194–195, 197, 200}} Reading these works was an act of ecclesiastical defiance, but not an uncommon one in reformist circles. Vermigli seems to have slowly moved in a Protestant direction primarily through the study of the Bible and the [[Church Fathers]], especially Augustine. He probably read Protestant literature critically; it was common for those in reform-minded circles to do so while remaining in the Catholic Church.{{sfn|James|1998|p=195, 197, 199}} Vermigli embraced the Protestant doctrine of [[justification by faith alone]] during this time, and he had probably rejected the traditional [[Sacraments of the Catholic Church|Catholic view of the sacraments]].{{sfn|James|1998|p=40}} Vermigli also seems to have influenced Valdés. Scholars believe that Valdés's strong doctrine of [[double predestination]], that God has chosen some people for salvation and others for damnation, was learned from Vermigli. Vermigli in turn had acquired it from his study of either [[Gregory of Rimini]] or [[Thomas Aquinas]] at Padua.{{sfnm|James|1998|1p=163|Sytsma|2018|2pp=155–156}}

Vermigli's move away from orthodox Catholic belief became apparent in 1539 when he preached on [[1 Corinthians 3]]:9–17, a passage commonly used as proof of the doctrine of [[purgatory]].{{sfn|McNair|1967|p=161}} Vermigli did not take this view in his preaching, though he did not openly deny the existence of purgatory.{{sfn|McLelland|2009a|p=32}} [[Saint Cajetan|Gaetano da Thiene]], an opponent of the ''spirituali'', reported his suspicions of Vermigli to the Spanish viceroy of Naples [[Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, Marquis of Villafranca|Don Pedro de Toledo]], who prohibited Vermigli's preaching.{{sfn|McNair|1967|p=165}} The prohibition was removed on Vermigli's appeal to [[Holy See|Rome]], with which he received some help from powerful friends he had made in Padua, such as Cardinals Pole and Bembo.{{sfn|Steinmetz|2001|p=107}} Despite this controversy, Vermigli continued to rise in the Lateran Congregation. He was made one of four visitors by the chapter general in 1540.{{sfn|Taplin|2004}} The visitors assisted the [[rector general]] by inspecting the Congregation's religious houses.{{sfn|McNair|1967|p=193}}

[[File:Basilica di San Frediano Lucca.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|[[Basilica of San Frediano]], where Vermigli was appointed [[Prior (ecclesiastical)|prior]] in 1541]]
In 1541 the Congregation elected Vermigli to the important post of prior of [[Basilica of San Frediano]] in [[Lucca]].{{sfn|Steinmetz|2001|p=107}}{{efn|He succeeded Tommaso da Piacenza.{{sfn|McNair|1967|p=206}}}} The prior at San Frediano exercised some [[Ecclesiastical jurisdiction|episcopal authority]] over half the city, as well as control of the Lateran's religious houses.{{sfn|McNair|1967|p=206}} As at his earlier post in Spoleto, the monks of the San Frediano monastery, as well as the clergy of Lucca, were known for moral laxity, which led to an openness to the new Lutheran religion there.{{sfn|McNair|1967|p=213}} Vermigli saw his task as one of education as well as moral correction.{{sfn|McNair|1967|p=221}} He set up a college based on humanist principles of education and modelled on the newly founded [[St John's College, Cambridge]], and [[Corpus Christi College, Oxford]]. Instruction was in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew.{{sfn|Kirby|2009|p=136}} Among the professors were the humanists [[Immanuel Tremellius]], [[Paolo Lacizi]], [[Celio Secondo Curione]],{{sfn|Taplin|2004}} and [[Girolamo Zanchi]], all of whom would later convert to Protestantism.{{sfn|McNair|1994|p=7}} The Congregation recognised Vermigli's work by appointing him to a disciplinary commission of seven canons in May 1542.{{sfn|Taplin|2004}}