Roman Inquisition facts for kids

The Roman Inquisition was a special system of courts set up by the Catholic Church in the mid-1500s. Its full name in Latin was Suprema Congregatio Sanctae Romanae et Universalis Inquisitionis, which means the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition. Its job was to investigate and judge people accused of breaking Catholic rules or having different religious beliefs.

This system was started in 1542 by Pope Paul III, who was the leader of the Catholic Church at the time. It was one of three main parts of the larger Catholic Inquisition. The other two were the Spanish Inquisition and the Portuguese Inquisition.

What It Did and How It Worked

The main goal of the Roman Inquisition was to make sure people followed the rules and teachings of the Catholic Church. It also applied punishments to those who went against these teachings in countries that worked with the Pope.

The Pope would usually choose one cardinal to lead the meetings of the Inquisition. This person was sometimes called a "Grand Inquisitor" in history books, but their role was different from the official Grand Inquisitor in Spain. There were usually ten other cardinals who were members, along with other church officials. The Inquisition also had a group of experts in theology (the study of religion) and canon law (church law) who gave advice on specific cases. These groups then oversaw the work of local courts.

History of the Roman Inquisition

The Roman Inquisition started in 1542. It was part of the Catholic Church's effort to respond to the rise of Protestantism, a new form of Christianity. However, it was generally less harsh than the Spanish Inquisition that had been set up earlier.

Over time, the name of this group changed. In 1588, Pope Sixtus V made it one of 15 main groups within the Roman Curia (the Pope's administration). It was called the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition. Later, in 1908, it was renamed the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office. In 1965, it became the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Most recently, in 2022, it was renamed the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

The Roman Inquisition was first created to stop Protestant ideas from spreading in Italy. But it continued to exist long after that original goal. Its system of courts lasted until the mid-1700s. At that time, Italian states began to limit the power of the local inquisitions. This greatly reduced the Church's ability to prosecute religious crimes.

Famous Cases Investigated

Copernicus

Nicolaus Copernicus was a scientist who proposed a new idea about the universe. In 1514, he suggested that the sun was at the center of the universe, and the Earth rotated around it. He wrote more about this in his book De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres) in 1543. This book was even dedicated to Pope Paul III, who liked astronomy.

For many years, Copernicus's ideas did not cause problems with the Church. However, about 70 years after Copernicus died, experts consulted by the Roman Inquisition looked at his ideas again. This happened because of complaints against Galileo. They decided that the idea of the sun being still and at the center, with the Earth moving around it, was "foolish and absurd" from a philosophical view. They also said the first part was "heretical" and the second part was "at least wrong in faith."

The Inquisition did not condemn Copernicus or his book. However, they ordered that some parts of De revolutionibus be removed from future editions. Versions of the book that were not changed were put on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum (Index of Forbidden Books), which was a list of books Catholics were not allowed to read.

Galileo

Galileo Galilei was another famous scientist who supported Copernicus's ideas. In 1615, he was warned about his views on heliocentrism (the idea that the sun is the center). The Roman Inquisition decided that his theory could only be seen as a possibility, not a proven fact.

Galileo later wrote a book called Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (1632). This book seemed to criticize Pope Urban VIII, who had supported Galileo before. Because of this, the Pope and the Jesuits (a Catholic religious order) turned against Galileo.

In 1633, Galileo was put on trial by the Inquisition. He was found "strongly suspected of heresy." He was forced to say he was wrong, and his book was added to the Index Librorum Prohibitorum. Galileo spent the rest of his life under house arrest at his home near Florence.

John Bargrave

John Bargrave was an English traveler and writer in the 1600s. He wrote about his experience with the Roman Inquisition. When he arrived in the city of Reggio, city guards stopped him. They suspected some of his books might be on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum.

Bargrave was taken to the chief inquisitor of the city. The inquisitor suggested they speak in Latin so the guards wouldn't understand. The inquisitor told Bargrave that the Inquisition usually didn't stop travelers unless someone had reported them. Bargrave thought Jesuits in Rome might have accused him. He was told he needed a license from the Inquisition to carry his books. Even with a license, he couldn't carry books "printed at any heretical city, as Geneva, Amsterdam, Leyden, London, or the like." Bargrave gave the Inquisition a list of his books and received a license to continue his journey with them.

Other Cases

The Inquisition also investigated other notable people. These included Giordano Bruno, Tommaso Campanella, and Camilla Erculiani, who was an Italian writer and advocate for women. Of these, only Bruno was executed, in 1600. Another person, a miller named Domenico Scandella, was also executed in 1599 for his unusual beliefs about God.

The Inquisition also looked into the Benandanti in the Friuli region of Italy. However, they saw them as less dangerous than the Protestant movement and gave them only light punishments.

Inquisition in Italy and Malta

The Inquisition in Malta, which lasted from 1561 to 1798, is generally thought to have been less severe.

An Italian historian named Andrea Del Col estimates that out of 51,000 to 75,000 cases judged by the Inquisition in Italy after 1542, about 1,250 resulted in a death sentence.

Historical Views on Witchcraft Accusations

The Inquisitions have been a big topic in discussions about witchcraft accusations in early modern times. Some historians, like Henry Charles Lea, focused on harsh methods used to get confessions. Other scholars, like Carlo Ginzburg, suggested that the Inquisition's ideas about demons changed popular folk beliefs.

Early feminist scholars also looked at the witch hunts. Some believed the Inquisitions were responsible for many deaths, especially of women. They pointed to books like the Malleus Maleficarum as influencing these events. Jonathan Kirsch also argued that the Inquisition's methods influenced later events like the Salem witch trials.

However, more recent research has shown a different picture of the Roman Inquisition. Historians like Brian P. Levack and John Tedeschi have pointed out that most witch trials and executions were carried out by local, non-church authorities. They also noted that the Malleus Maleficarum quickly became less important.

In-depth research shows that the Inquisition's procedures actually helped limit witch hunting in Italy. Scholars like Christopher F. Black found that the Inquisition used torture less often and had more lawful ways of questioning. This meant trials focused more on individual accusations rather than large groups. The Holy Office also helped reduce superstitions. Jeffrey R. Watt explains that the Inquisition eventually banned torture for witchcraft confessions. They also started to see witches as people who had simply lost their way and could be helped, rather than as people who deserved death.

Historians who argue that the Inquisition limited witch hunts often compare Italy to Central Europe. They also suggest that the number of executed witches was much lower, between 45,000 and 60,000. Those who blame the Inquisition for the witch craze often see all Inquisitions as one long event. They also tend to give more importance to the Malleus Maleficarum.