What Purpose Does FeCl₃ Serve in the Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution

What purpose does FeCl₃ serve in the electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction between chlorine and benzene?

A) It serves as a radical initiator to produce the chlorine radical needed to propagate the chain reaction.
B) It functions by destabilizing the carbocationic intermediate and thereby increases the rate of H⁺ loss.
C) It serves as a Lewis base catalyst by reacting with Cl₂ to generate chloride ions.
D) It functions by destabilizing the benzene through formation of a π-complex.
E) It serves as a Lewis acid catalyst by reacting with the Cl₂ and thereby activates it toward attack by benzene's π electrons.