Inquisition facts for kids
The Inquisition was a special group or court of the Catholic Church that worked against heresy in the Middle Ages. Heresy meant beliefs that went against the Church's official teachings. The Inquisition had two main jobs. First, it created a list called the Index. This list named books that were banned because they had ideas the Church disagreed with. People were not allowed to read these books. Second, the Inquisition judged people who they thought had these "wrong" beliefs.
Later, some Inquisitions had the power to use harsh methods to get people to confess or change their religious beliefs. They could also order people to be put to death. Often, this was done by burning people in public. The actual killings were carried out by the local government, not directly by the Church.
The full name of this group was very long: the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith. It was part of the Catholic Church. The Inquisition started in different steps over time. The first permanent Inquisition began in 1229. It was run by a group called the Dominicans in Rome. In 1478, King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile started the famous Spanish Inquisition.
In 1542, Pope Paul III created a new version called the Congregation of the Holy Office of the Inquisition. This was a court with important Church leaders called cardinals and other officials. This group watched over the local Inquisitions in different countries. It also handled big cases from Italy. The most famous person it judged was Galileo Galilei in 1633.
The word Inquisition comes from the Latin word inquisitio. This word means "inquiry" or "investigation."
Contents
What Was Heresy?
Heresy was any belief or teaching that went against what the Catholic Church said was true. If someone was accused of heresy, it meant they were thought to have ideas that challenged the Church's authority or its understanding of God.
Why Was the Inquisition Created?
The Church created the Inquisition to protect its teachings and to keep people from spreading ideas it considered dangerous. Leaders believed that wrong beliefs could harm people's souls and cause disorder in society.
Famous Cases and Events
- Galileo Galilei: He was a famous scientist who said the Earth moved around the Sun. This idea went against what the Church taught at the time. The Inquisition put him on trial in 1633.
- Banning Books: The Index of Prohibited Books was a powerful tool. It controlled what information people could read and learn. This list was updated for many centuries.
Related pages
Images for kids
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A 19th-century painting showing Galileo before the Holy Office.
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An old picture from 1685 showing the Inquisition in Portugal.
See also
In Spanish: Inquisición para niños
