The Roman Inquisition: Faith, Fear, and Censorship in Renaissance Italy

The Story of Italy: Rome, Renaissance, and the Birth of Modern Europe — Fexingo History · May 11, 2026 · 7m · transcript

When we think of the Inquisition, our minds jump to Spain—but Italy had its own formidable institution. The Roman Inquisition, established in 1542 by Pope Paul III, was a centralizing force that policed orthodoxy across the Italian peninsula for over three centuries. Its targets ranged from Protestant reformers to scientists like Galileo, from Jewish converts to mystical visionaries. This episode explores how the Inquisition operated, its network of spies and informants, the Index of Forbidden Books, and its lasting impact on Italian intellectual life. We delve into specific cases: the trial…