Originally from Brandenburg, through family influence became Archbishop of Magdeburg (1513) and administrator of Halberstadt. A special papal dispensation in 1514 cleared the way for him to become the Archbishop of Mainz, which also carried the title of Elector. Albrecht agreed to pay Pope Leo X the sum of 24,000 ducats (14,000 for the Pallium and 10,000 for the exemption to hold plural positions or sees.)

Albrecht would traffic the sale of indulgences splitting the returns with the Pope and paying off his debts. Johann Tetzel, who was hired by Albrecht, was famous for his preaching “indulgence sermons” and filling the coffers.

Tetzel’s practices ultimately drove Luther to write a letter and send a copy of his Ninety-Five Theses to Albrecht. Luther was unaware of Tetzel’s ties to Albrecht, and wanted to alert him of what was being propagated in his name. Albrecht forwarded Luther’s letter and Theses to Rome, asking for the Pope to silence the presumptuous monk.

It would take Albrecht two years to formally respond to Luther’s letter, but by that time, Albrecht’s influence in German ecclesiastical affairs had significantly declined while Luther’s influence had grown.