Support and Opposition
Galileo Galilei in front of the Inquisition
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Galileo is normally seen as having immense support from his colleagues in his field and opposition from the clergy. However, many mathematicians and natural philosophers held him in contempt as he rejected Aristotle's cosmology, while clergy supported him. Galileo contradicting the Aristotelian method caused much uproar in the University of Pisa (Owens). Additionally, Monsignor Piero Dini and Carmelite Father Paolo Antonio Foscarini gave Galileo their support (Finnochiaro).
Leading up to the Trial
In a letter to Cardinal Sgondrati, Father Lorini summed up the reason the Catholic Church opposed Galileo: he apparently interpreted the Scripture differently than the Church, marking him as a heretic. The Dominican friar Tommaso Caccini criticized Galileo's teachings, detailing how they "contradicted passages in Joshua where the sun stands still during the battle of Gibeon" (Owens). However, Caccini was among a minority originally, as Cardinal Robert Bellarmine and many Vatican mathematicians supported Galileo and believed his teachings (Owens). After a rebuff from Galileo, citing proof from Saint Augustine that cosmology did not relate to salvation, Caccini's superior sent an apology to Galileo (Owens). However, Caccini explained Galileo's views to the Inquisition in 1615. The Inquisition "referred the matter" to a committee of theologians, who stated that a heliocentric model was heretical (Owens). Pope Paul V had Bellarmine advise Galileo to end his support of the theory, and the pope told Galileo that he "had not been on trial in Rome nor had he been condemned" (Owens).
The Trial
Galileo's Recantation
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In 1621, Pope Paul V died, bringing Cosimo de' Medici, Galileo's patron, to become Pope Gregory XV. Galileo felt his position was improving and could write as he pleased. Soon, Gregory XV also died, and Galileo's friend, Cardinal Barberini, became Pope Urban VIII. He told Galileo that he could write about Copernican theory, provided that he did not proclaim it as fact (Owens). Galileo took advantage of this, writing Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems about a fictional debate between a supporter of Copernicus and a foolish supporter of Aristotle, resembling Pope Urban VIII and reciting Urban's words. Urban felt pressure from the Thirty Years War and decided to allow the Inquisition to review the Dialogue. In October 1632, Galileo was called before the Inquisition. The members
pronounce, sentence, and declare that...Galileo, by reason of the matters adduced in trial...have rendered yourself in the judgment of this Holy Office vehemently suspected of heresy, namely, of having believed and held the doctrine—which is false and contrary to the sacred and divine Scriptures—that the Sun is the center of the world and does not move from east to west and that the Earth moves and is not the center of the world; and that an opinion may be held and defended as probably after it has been declared and defined to be contrary to the Holy Scripture
(Bentivoglio).
Eventually, Galileo recanted his beliefs, stating,
with sincere heart and unfeigned faith I abjure, curse, and detest the aforesaid errors and heresies, and generally every other error, heresy, and sect whatsoever contrary to the said Holy Church, and I swear that in the future I will never again say or assert, verbally or in writing, anything that might furnish occasion for a similar suspicion regarding me; but that should I know any heretic, or person suspected of heresy, I will denounce him to this Holy Office, or to the Inquisitor or Ordinary of the place where I may be. Further, I swear and promise to fulfill and observe in their integrity all penances that have been, or that shall be, imposed upon me by this Holy Office. And, in the event of my contravening,...any of these my promises and oaths, I submit myself to all the pains and penalties imposed and promulgated in the sacred canons and other constitutions, general and particular, against such delinquents (Galileo).
With that recantation, Galileo was sentenced to his Florentine villa for the remainder of his life.
pronounce, sentence, and declare that...Galileo, by reason of the matters adduced in trial...have rendered yourself in the judgment of this Holy Office vehemently suspected of heresy, namely, of having believed and held the doctrine—which is false and contrary to the sacred and divine Scriptures—that the Sun is the center of the world and does not move from east to west and that the Earth moves and is not the center of the world; and that an opinion may be held and defended as probably after it has been declared and defined to be contrary to the Holy Scripture
(Bentivoglio).
Eventually, Galileo recanted his beliefs, stating,
with sincere heart and unfeigned faith I abjure, curse, and detest the aforesaid errors and heresies, and generally every other error, heresy, and sect whatsoever contrary to the said Holy Church, and I swear that in the future I will never again say or assert, verbally or in writing, anything that might furnish occasion for a similar suspicion regarding me; but that should I know any heretic, or person suspected of heresy, I will denounce him to this Holy Office, or to the Inquisitor or Ordinary of the place where I may be. Further, I swear and promise to fulfill and observe in their integrity all penances that have been, or that shall be, imposed upon me by this Holy Office. And, in the event of my contravening,...any of these my promises and oaths, I submit myself to all the pains and penalties imposed and promulgated in the sacred canons and other constitutions, general and particular, against such delinquents (Galileo).
With that recantation, Galileo was sentenced to his Florentine villa for the remainder of his life.