Galileo Galilei and the Roman Curia: From Authentic SourcesGebler, Karl von
Religion
Galileo Galilei and the Roman Curia: From Authentic Sources
Gebler, Karl von
Astronomers -- Italy -- Biography; Catholic Church. Curia romana; Galilei, Galileo, 1564-1642; Religion and science -- History
Up to 1870 the conclusion that Galileo did not for a moment resist the
cardinal’s admonition, but submitted at once, could only be drawn, as
it was drawn by Wohlwill, partly from the wording of the report of
the proceedings of 26th February, 1616, partly from Galileo’s sincere
Catholic sentiments, for he was to the end, from conviction, a true son
of the Church. However much there might be to justify the conclusion,
therefore, it was founded only on probability, was confirmed by no
documents, and was therefore open to assault. It was attacked by
Friedlein in a review of Wohlwill’s brochure.[142] But when Friedlein
was trying to prove that Galileo must have resisted the cardinal’s
admonitions, and only submitted to the peremptory threats of the official
of the Inquisition, the document had been already published in Italy
which placed the question beyond doubt. This is an extract of the
protocol of the sitting of the Congregation of the Holy Office of 3rd
March, 1616, and forms part of the collection of documents published by
Professor Silvestro Gherardi in the _Rivista Europea_, 1870. It is as
follows:—
“_3rd March, 1616._
“The Lord Cardinal Bellarmine having reported that Galileo
Galilei, mathematician, had in terms of the order of the
Holy Congregation been admonished to abandon (deserendam)
[disserendam (discuss) was the word originally written] the
opinion he has hitherto held, that the sun is the centre of
the spheres and immovable, and that the earth moves, and had
acquiesced therein; and the decree of the Congregation of
the Index having been presented, prohibiting and suspending
respectively the writings of Nicholas Copernicus (De
Revolutionibus orbium cœlestium....) of Diego di Zuñiga on Job,
and of Paolo Antonio Foscarini, Carmelite Friar—His Holiness
ordered this edict of prohibition and suspension respectively,
to be published by the Master of the Palace.”[143]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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