"Quiet !" "For some time..." "I've been examining this part of the human body." "I wanted to see where nerves originate." "They originate from the brain." "They branch out through the neck, down the spinal column and then throughout the body." "only a very fine thread-Iike nerve, reaches the heart." "I agree." "But your discovery conflicts with AristotIe who says nerves originate in the heart." "Father Sarpi, you know I hold you in high regard." "But this is an abuse, the conclusions are hurried." "Cremonini, it's obvious AristotIe made no anatomical verification." "How can we talk about these things ?" "In his day, they dared no sacrilege by touching the human body." "It's not a sacrilege !" "Quiet !" "Cremonini, come and see for yourself." "From what I see, I can't say you're wrong." "But since the great AristotIe stated differently, there's good reason to doubt even our own senses." "You perceive hot and cold with your senses without asking AristotIe, don't you ?" " GaIiIei, are you making fun of me ?" " Not at all." "If a garment becomes tight, don't you make a larger one ?" " What's your point ?" " It's the same in science." "We use a theory until we realize it's become too tight and doesn't fit the new demands." "What opinions are these ?" "What about AristotIe's prestige ?" "For science, AristotIe's prestige counts zero !" "In this room, theories have fallen that we believed were absolute," "like several of GaIeno's theories." "You say they've fallen but they're still valid." "Not me, the corpse says it, that's the book of truth." "Sarpi's right !" "GaIeno's the greatest physician ever." "Listen." "No one denies GaIeno's worth, but several of his opinions have been unfounded." "Here's an example." "Look." "According to GaIeno, the human body is regulated by three essences which pass from the liver to the heart via channels crossing the ventricular section of the heart." "GaIeno describes these channels in great detail which should be located here." "But there's a snag, the channels are not present." " Do you ridicule GaIeno ?" " Not at all." "But these channels don't exist, so the theory can't stand." " They have to be there." " Dear colleague, look for yourself." "Look deeper !" "Are they present or not ?" "They're not here." "But GaIeno described them !" "There must be a reason." " This is foolishness, heresy !" " It's no heresy !" "Don't call heretics those who want clarity." "Isn't the body the temple of the soul ?" "Here they cut it, mix the brain, examine the heart as if the salvation of the soul depended on it." "We need to know the truth for the salvation of the soul." "Every attempt should be encouraged." " This Dutch tool..." " What is it ?" "It should make distant things seem closer." "I didn't see a thing, maybe I don't know how." " would you take a look ?" " Sure." "Look how we're made !" "We're really made funny !" "It'II kill your appetite !" "Anatomy, astronomy..." "you're an extraordinary man." "Meaning I'm too curious for a friar ?" " They skinned him for a better look." " An exaggeration !" " I'm not made like this." " No, you're worse !" "This is the human machine, now we understand how muscles move." "wonderful." "We know about the human body, but nothing about the universe." "It's absurd, how come ?" "It's our books." "He just likes to shock people." "I have a pain right there." "You should know how to stop it, it hurts so much !" "My tailbone pains me and drives me mad." "It's true, man is the most perfect being." "That's a bias, every element in nature is perfect." "No, monkeys are much uglier than man." "They're perfect, for example toads are perfect." "The ladies will forgive me, but we're not much better-Iooking than toads." "The universe is wondrous in all its parts." "The universe was created for man, so man's the most perfect." "The universe wasn't created for man." "Thinking that man and Earth are the center of the universe will never lead to the truth." "That's the error, humanity is just a small part of it." "That's extremely interesting, but we mustn't forget that man was created for ultimate aims." "In your anatomies you find bone and muscles." "But have you ever found the ultimate aims ?" "That's a question of faith." "If you do the anatomy of the universe one day, will you find Paradise ?" " What do you mean ?" " We shouldn't discuss this." "In the bible, God created light first, then the sun, moon and stars." "But where was the light if the sun, moon and stars were created later ?" "What do you say ?" "Is this any talk for mealtime ?" "Let's eat !" "What a mess !" "I've always said he has a pea brain." "As my guest here in Venice, you mustn't talk like that." "I say what I think." "It's heresy, I don't want to be compromised." "tell GaIiIei I'd Iike to see him." "I apologize for my guest, I don't agree with his ideas." "We're responsible for our opinions." "Isn't that Giordano Bruno, the excommunicated friar ?" ""Beware of drafts and unfrocked friars"." " Where is he ?" " Inside, he wants to see GaIiIei." "You aren't afraid to be seen with me ?" "No, I know your ideas." "I don't share your ideas, at Ieast, not all of them." "Which is ?" "When you say matter is God." "No God organizes matter from outside." "That destroys the basis of religion." "I want to free reason from deception." "There aren't nine Heavens as they teach in school, just a single infinite space and all the stars move within it." "There are infinite worlds, Earth is a speck of dust." " alright, where's your proof ?" " Reason." " What experiments have you done ?" " Reason is enough." "Your theory needs proof," "I have no conclusion, I'm waiting." "You can't believe the ssk's full of cherubs." "No, but mine's just a supposition... the universe is matter and everything moves, Earth too." "But without proof, I'd rather not talk about it." "Copernicus made them all laugh by saying Earth moves." "You fear ridicule." "No, I want proof, that's all." "I hear you'II be teaching in Padua this year." "The science taught in our schools is a quagmire." "A quagmire, right." "will you teach new ideas about the universe ?" "I said I have no proof." "You'II be teaching the usual prattIe." "unfortunately." "I won't be called a visionary or a heretic either." " So you're afraid ?" " Yes, that too." "Do you really think you can find the proof ?" "I don't know." "You're a rebel." "Man's a rebel because he was made free." "But he doesn't use it, it burns in his hands." "He's happy when someone forces him to obey." "Man loves to bow his head, kiss someone's feet." "Their backs ache from deference." "No, I'm not Iike that at all." "You will be, if you want to live in peace." " Did you see Morosini in Venice ?" " Yes, I was in his home." "I hear he lives with a young girl from milan." " I didn't see her." " No surprise." "The next time you go to Venice, I'm coming too." "You go have fun and leave me here to work, I'm tired." "You're right, you should rest." " I'II get my mother to help." " No, Iet her be." "What can I do then ?" "I don't know, but in my condition..." "What condition ?" "You're sure ?" "I have to tell Sagredo." "How does Sagredo figure ?" "Think of us !" " Us ?" " Yes, when will you marry me ?" "We have time to think it over." " What's the rush ?" " Want this one like the other ?" "I want the child to be healthy and strong." "We'II have to find someone to help with housework." "I'm serious, if you don't marry me, I'm leaving." " Are you crazy ?" " No, not a bit." "Look..." " With this collar..." " I Iook like an idiot." "No, you look nice." "Imagine having to wear a dressing gown to teach !" " May I come in ?" " please do." "Good morning." " Sagredo, what happened ?" " I beat up Moncenigo." " You took some too." " The bastard, he reported Bruno." "He turned him over to the priests." "Yes, I heard." " What do you think ?" " What do I think ?" "That we can't think." "heavenly spheres are perfect, although we have no exact idea." "Earth's sphere isn't perfect due to its mountains, seas and our sins." "We're mortal, perishable, imperfect." "Earth is at the center of the universe, the sun and all the other stars circle it, all perfect spheres." "But some don't think on these lines." "Some claim Earth isn't the center of everything, they say the sun is," "Earth circles it, as do all the planets." "So, Earth would be a planet like the others." "Which, as I said, is not true." "If it were, AristotIe and St. Thomas would have written so." "Instead they wrote exactly the opposite." "Therefore, as I said, Earth is motionless and is at the center of the universe." "It's closed within nine Heavens." "exactly nine, as AristotIe says, not one more or one less..." "Imagine Earth as the pulp of an orange with nine skins around it." "It's not an appropriate comparison." "The pulp and skin of an orange are the same matter and quality." "Earth, for moral substance and quality, differs from the Heavens." "In fact, Earth is comprised of opaque, corruptibIe matter." "while the nine Heavens and all the stars are bright crystals, eternal and incorruptible." "However, some people suggest the Heavens are matter and corruptible like Earth." "It's an absurd idea !" "It's scandalous to degrade the Heavens like that !" "surely, I agree." "Such an idea would upset all we believe in." "A wall of impossibility separates our Earth from the Heavens." "Man can only look at them and dream." "It would be arrogant to try to fell that wall." "No, Earth..." "Earth is like a decayed seed within these nine crystal spheres." "Shit !" "Stand over there." "Crouch, a little lower." "My name's Giordano Bruno, I'm from nola, near naples." "I'm a man of letters and science." "I dressed the Dominican habit at 15," "I later entered the ministry." "I wore the habit until 1576." "That year I came before Rome." "I was tried twice in naples, once for tossing out saints' images, I wanted just the crucifix." "Another for telling a novice not to read Meditations but the lives of the apostles." "In Rome I was falsely accused, that's why I Ieft the ministry." " Then I began teaching." " Where ?" "In various universities," "Geneva, TouIouse, Lyon, Mainz, Frankfurt, Prague, Paris..." "Then Moncenigo invited me to Venice, he wanted lessons." "But he reported me to the Inquisition for defamation." "You were, and are, excommunicated." "You knew you were wanted in italy, you shouldn't have returned." "Perhaps you wanted to spread your ideas in Venice ?" "I returned to italy convinced it pleased the Pope," "I'd hoped he would grant greater freedom of opinion, an act of reform, I thought I couId convince him." "Did you slander the catholic faith in those heretic places ?" "I only discussed philosophy." "Did you ever consider spreading the catholic faith among them ?" "I'm only a scholar." "Haven't you expressed praise for a heretic ?" "For his humane qualities, not for being a heretic." "Have you ever read the books of any heretic ?" "Yes, I've read Luther and calvin, but just for curiosity." "Is it true or not you say the apostles converted through love and example, but today the clergy convert through coercion and force ?" "It's true." "You've said the catholic faith is full of blasphemy and would not be pleasing to the Lord." "You've said the clergy lead reprehensible, scandalous lives." "I never said that, they're lies and falsehood by who reported me, they want to ruin me !" "calm down." "Why not make a full confession and free yourself of your sins ?" "This court will use all the mercy necessary for your soul." "Be more specific." "Have you ever said or read things contrary to the catholic faith ?" "Not contrary, just different." "If your philosophy is contrary to St. Thomas', isn't it also contrary to the Faith ?" "No, we're not obliged to reason like St. Thomas." "That doesn't mean being contrary to the Faith." "What's your message in "De I'infinito universo et Mondi" ?" "In that book I speak about my ideas on nature." "For exampIe, I state that Earth is a heavenly body, exactly like the moon, the other planets and the stars." "They're all made of the exact same matter." " They move, so does Earth." " Earth is immobile !" "Above us there's a Heaven that the soul must one day reach." "No, there must be many elements of the Earth on the stars, mountains, seas, plants, animals..." "Maybe there are men too, corporal substances like us." "You're a visionary, everything you say is contrary to the bible." "The bible isn't a book of science." "It's what men of those times could see with their own eyes." "You're wrong, you believe men are like animals and are corruptible like all other material creatures." "We're a tiny part of the universe." "You're crazy !" "Your opinions are much more serious than Luther's." "At least he professes salvation, but you want to lower man to the level of animals." "Lower Earth to the level of a grain of sand." "Man needs no illusions, he reasons !" "It's useless to go on, what he says is absurd." " It's simply the truth." " Just because you say so ?" "Are you a prophet ?" "The great prophet of nothingness ?" "reflect, what would man be without God ?" "Nothing, without faith the most scholarly is just a desperate man." "AII things in the universe are part of God." "Man too is a part of God because there's one substance." "God and man are different substances." "Man is God's creature, don't you know the bible ?" "My philosophy comes from a great love for the whole universe !" "For me the universe itself is God !" "With no distinction between creator and created, religion has no sense." " You're a false prophet." " An enemy to God and the Church." "Your ideas are dangerous." "There's nothing funny about it." "Your brother-in-Iaw has a paper you signed, pay your sister's dowry or he'II get you thrown in jail." "Mamma, what can I do ?" "I paid my part." " I know, but..." " So, what does he want ?" " Now my brother has to pay." " He has no money." "Neither do I." "Is that your interest in family ?" "You just have illegitimate kids !" "MazzoIeni, hand me lens number four." " No answer ?" " We'II talk later, go downstairs." "Let me work." "There !" "wonderful !" "Perfect !" "We're there !" "We did it, come here." "Look." "The two circles seem the same size." "Tie it tightly." "It won't end well with your brother-in-Iaw." " When are you leaving ?" " You're sending me away ?" "It's that awful Marina who sets you against me." " hello to all." " hello." "It's fantastic, wonderful..." "Sagredo, the tool Sarpi gave me was worthless, but this is fantastic." "Why, what's the difference ?" "See those two circles down there ?" "Look at the smaller one with this." "What do you see ?" "The little one looks as big as the other." "Right !" "This instrument has great surprises in store." "Marina..." "What do you see ?" "You can see things the naked eye can't." " Let me see." " No, not here." "It's not smooth, it's not a crystal sphere." "Wake up." "Wake up, Sagredo !" " What's wrong ?" " Look there." "MazzoIeni, come and see, maybe my eyes are a little tired." "There are mountains like on Earth." "It's not a perfect crystal, it's rough matter, Iike Earth." "Can you see bright dots on the dark part ?" "Yes, I see bright dots that spread out." " What's that mean ?" " The sun rises on the moon." "MazzoIeni, you look too." "Those mountains are reflecting the sun like mountains on Earth." "The sunlight shines into the valleys and spreads." "We're the first to see sunrise on the mountains of the moon." "Be exact." "We ask you for the Iast time, for your soul's salvation, do you abjure the eight heretical opinions we found in your books and in the trial records." "I told you once and will again," "I'm ready to repent, but only for what concerns the Faith." "I won't change my opinions on the universe." "They're heresy too, they're contrary to the bible." "My ideas concern science, not religion." "We all must be free to have our own opinions." "As long as they conform to our Faith." "True freedom is to obey the teachings of the holy Church." "Outside the Church reign chaos and perdition." "My advice is to abjure with humility." "Then you'II be welcomed by the holy Church as a repentant." " I stand firm in my idea." " You know what awaits you." "I can just imagine." "Won't you repent in the end ?" "Won't you save your soul ?" "No, I'd be saving your conscience." "What insinuation is that ?" "You'II say Divine Grace touched me, that your fraternal stake broke me !" "He's a blasphemer !" "We've done all we could !" "reflect another moment before the sentence is read." "It's a grave sentence." "You'II have greater fear pronouncing my sentence than I will listening to it." "We, the general Inquisitors for the holy Roman Church, invoking the name of Jesus Christ and the Mother, ever Virgin Mary, do, as this our final sentence, pronounce and sentence you," "Giordano Bruno, to be an unrepentant, pertinacious, obstinate heretic incurring all eccIesiastic censure, the sanctions of the holy precepts, laws and constitutions." "We ordain you be deprived of all ecclesiastical orders and expelled from our holy and immaculate Church of which you are unworthy." "We order that you be handed over to the Governor of Rome for due punishment." "We condemn all your books and writings as heretical and erroneous, ordering that they be burned." "Look there." "One planet was here, this one was here the other week." "Wow..." "It's really true, if this star was here..." "You never sleep !" "Afraid they'II steal your ssk ?" "You know what my mother told me when I was a child ?" ""Look up there, look at the ssk"." "But there's no 'up there' or even a 'down here', we're all inside." "I have to understand, I have to find the proof." "The stars I discovered have changed place again." "If we'd had the proof, Bruno would have been saved." "That's true." "They've moved again, you know what that means ?" "They're orbiting around Jupiter." "Those stars are orbiting around Jupiter like its satellites," "like the moon around Earth." " So, Jupiter is a world of its own ?" " Yes, with four moons." "There's a Iot of movement in the Heavens, unknown until now." "And maybe Earth moves too." "Maybe Earth really does turn." "Nonsense, the moon isn't rough, it's a celestial body and perfect." "Do you have proof ?" "It's in our books !" "We had no proof, but now we do." "There are no perfect or imperfect bodies in Heaven, just measurable bodies and calculative forces." "The separation between Heaven and Earth that we were taught, is wrong." "When we look up we see matter." "Let's look reality in the face, despite what books, professors, priests and those who are afraid say." "That system is wrong, whether you Iike it or not." "Come here, MazzoIeni." "Don't be afraid of the truth." "Earth is not at the center, that's the truth." "Here's Earth and it moves." " It moves around the sun." " Heresy !" "We've kept science a slave, subjugated to power." "They invented Heaven as they liked, full of angels, thrones, cherubs, seraphim..." "You're tossing God out of Heaven !" "Where is He in your system ?" "Where He's always been, inside us, within us." "There are no angels, or saints, or souls in the universe." "Maybe there are other suns, other worlds, just like Giordano Bruno said." "It's time to speak clearly." " Don't you think ?" " Look..." "I heard the rector's worried." "He wants to remove you from lessons." "I'II teach outside, in squares, in streets, everywhere." "I want everyone to look in there, to be persuaded." "There are 1,027 stars in Heaven." "Have you ever counted them?" "With my lens, I've seen four planets that no one ever knew about, but they exist." "They're there and orbiting Jupiter, if you want to look..." "Their existence is logically and metaphysically impossible." "Take a look with this." "Sit and look through here." "I don't see anything, my eyes are just playing tricks." "You can't see because you don't want to." "would you Iike me to bring those planets down here ?" "Your proof is all imagination." "Imagination ?" "Try." "Who wants to try ?" "The devil's not in there." "It's like wearing a pair of glasses." "Does no one want to try ?" "Just a look." "Come on, what's it cost you ?" "Try, just one look !" "One, please !" "It's all a farce, we look like fools because of you." "Come here." "At least one dog will have looked in my lens !" "You filthy trickster, you and your science !" "You haven't even learned to live." "The professor's leaving !" "You can't fool me." "He can't take me with him !" ""Marina, understand me."" "I'II find you a husband, give you a dowry, someone you Iike." "You filthy wretch !" "Find me a husband ?" "What gall !" "What a nerve !" "Who do you think you are ?" "A dowry of 1, scudos." "With 1, scudos you'II find 1 husbands !" "You don't have even one scudo !" "I don't want anyone, not even you, but let me vent it." "Madame Marina is right." "What courage to call me Madame !" "He's laughing at me, you picked a great pal." "You're perfect for each other." "I'm sorry, but you can always count on me for anything." "should I say thank you and believe your lies ?" "Too bad, "Choose for love, lose for anger."" "Shut up, you and your proverbs." "Come on, Marina." "I told you..." "You can't come with me." "Even I don't know where I'm going." "The children are my responsibility." "And we'II find someone nice for you." "Let go of me." "You've really decided to return to Tuscany ?" " The children ?" " I'II take them to my mother's." "I'm afraid for you." "The Inquisition here wouldn't bother you," "florence is completely different." "Didn't they arrest Bruno here ?" "It's the same everywhere." "At least in florence the Grand Duke is a friend." "You're naive to think you can convince the Church of your ideas." "I'II go to Rome to talk to paul V." "HERESY IS DEAD" "Long live the catholic Church !" "I heard you felt comfortable in florence, the Grand Duke wrote me." "He says not to upset relations between Tuscany and the Church." "The game of the Pignatta !" "If the Pignatta you break, gold and silver you'II take !" " How nice !" " Why are they blindfolded ?" " What game is it ?" " It's a typical Roman game." "It's a stupid game." "You see ?" "galileo's playing with fire." "Mr. Ambassador, if he's protected by the Jesuits..." "So, the Dominicans don't like him, and you don't fool with them." "The truth is revealed through prayer, not through your lens." "It's just a tool, Iike a spade or a wheel." "It only helps make work easier." "Sure, but spades and wheels are harmless, you want to upset the spirit." "I'd just like to wake it up." "You'II lose your soul for arrogance." "You'II crush it from sleeping on it." " You argued, huh ?" " Not much." "In two days you'II be received by paul V, be cautious when you meet with BeIIarmine." " The cardinal ?" " Yes, he's in the Inquisition." "He's the most intolerant." "What I wish to discuss with Your Eminences and with scholars of mathematics and physics, is this:" "I've seen the planet Venus move around the sun." "I said:" ""How can Earth be motionless ?"" "If the heavenly bodies move, can just Earth be still ?" "I believe the sun moves too, on its axis." "From observation of sunspots, I've obtained proof." "For me, it's indisputable proof." "The Word of God is a far more valid demonstration." "Your theories clash with the bible." "You see, Your Eminence, it's true that God reveals himself through the holy bible, but I believe he reveals himself through nature as well." "My dear GaIiIei, the holy Spirit which inspired its writing cannot have made errors." "Of course not." "But the prophets who wrote the bible relied on the scientific notions of their contemporaries." " What's that mean ?" " The holy Spirit cannot err." "Excuse me, it seems you've missed GaIiIei's distinction." "He distinguishes two languages in the bible, one is unquestionable and regards Faith, the other is interpretable through science." "Thank you, that's exactly what I meant." "I'd say you have something to teach the Church, go on." " May I ?" " We're here to listen." "In explaining the bible the Church shouIdn't be tied to past ideas." "To utilize new scientific discoveries, it should remain free." "The books by St. Thomas teach us how to explain the sense of the bible." "I understand your caution, Father, but St. Thomas was just a man." "Can no one else propose a new vision of the world ?" "Nothing keeps us from looking into that lens." "Come, Father CIavio." "How does it work ?" "Don't you mathematicians find GaIiIei's ideas rash ?" "There's undeniable validity in some of his discoveries, and although it's distressing to leave old ideas, science renews." "The wisdom of the ancient fathers and saints teaches us true humility and that's more important than science." "I'm worried." "As a precaution, I called on the theologians of the holy Inquisition." "Everything GaIiIei says about the bible reminds me of Giordano Bruno." "Read it yourself." "It's a letter by the Iast heretic we sent to the stake." "It makes me cry like a baby." "That poor soul reconciled with God just before his death and he wanted to write this." "He thanks the Mother Church for saving his soul." "bodily pain opens the way to Grace." "Who knows if he deserved to die." "The Protestants accuse us of violence." "It's defense against the enemies of the Church." "But every form of violence is contrary to Christian charity." "would you want a weak, defeated and dying Church ?" "Sometimes even wars are necessary." "But the gospel says:" ""I send you as sheep among wolves."" "Can sheep bite wolves ?" "Isn't it rightful for a State to defend its citizens from enemies, resorting to extreme means if need be ?" "The Church isn't a State, it's a spiritual institution." "temporal power and spiritual power are one and the same." " Your audiences, holiness." " Who ?" " cardinal Barberini and GaIiIei." " Show them in." "I've heard good things about GaIiIei, I don't recall about what." " His discoveries regarding the moon." " The moon ?" "Oh, now I remember." "Here is a devout man who honors Tuscany and the Church." "Rise, my son." "We greatly respect your merits and thank Divine Providence for making a catholic be the first in astronomic discoveries." "Your holiness, I'd Iike you to examine several problems." "Observe the Heavens and offer your discoveries to the Church." "She is proud of a son like you." "I am touched, truly grateful." "There are several problems I'd Iike you to examine, if you will." "But, as a father to his son, I remind you to be vigilant and keep vanity, the mother of all evils, from entering your soul." "When a man rises above others, he's more exposed to temptation." "He often forgets that Christian virtue is humble submission." "Be vigilant, my son." "I wanted to tell the Pope about the friars who are slandering me..." "Forget it." "It's important he received you without the usual wait." "He didn't even have you kiss his slipper, that's a rare privilege." "Yes, but I wanted to discuss certain problems." "I think he should convene a council." "Don't exaggerate, the Church never hurries things." "Your time will come, just be prudent." "Don't talk much." "But be trusting, you'II always have a friend in me." "Come forward." "I thought it might be useful for you to know the theologians' opinion on the motion of the Earth." "please." "Listen to the conclusions they've come to." ""The theory of Copernicus is philosophically absurd, formally heretic and erroneous regarding the Faith."" "How can it be absurd if it's true ?" "Your question is poorly formulated." "You claim this theory is founded and true, theologians say it isn't." "CouIdn't they be wrong ?" "theologians interpret the Word of God." "The gospel speaks to us all." "But it takes caution to interpret it." "The gospel speaks more of courage than caution." "Think of Giordano Bruno." "It's well for you that the error is corrected in time, so you can act accordingly." "I was told..." "I was told by cardinal Barberini that you're a man of caution." " Come here." " Yes, Dad." "Have you ever looked a flea in the face ?" "Look." "It has a mouse face." " Did you make it ?" " Yes." "Let's see..." " How are the discoveries coming ?" " Which ones ?" " The stars." " Fine, I'm working on it." " Why don't you explain it to me ?" " It's hard, look at the book !" "I titled it "dialogue of Two Chief world Systems"." "It's dedicated to the new Pope." "Yes, it is." "I Iike your living in florence, I can see you every day." "The Mother Superior said I can come to you when I want." "The other nuns envy me a father like you." " 'Like you' ?" " They say you're famous." " Maybe, but it's awkward." " Why, what's happening ?" "I'm going to Rome soon." "To see the new Pope ?" "I'm glad, you'II see how he welcomes you." "Besides, you said Urban VIII is your friend." "He said that, but he was just a cardinal." "He's still a friend, don't worry." "Trust him." "I'II give my book to Urban VIII for his approval." "He'II approve it, Popes remove all obstacles." "If he says you're right, they all will." " I have lots of enemies in Rome." " Why ?" "Nothing, it's complex." "You never tell me how things stand." "It's nothing, I told you." "welcome, beloved brother in Christ." "We called you as soon as we took the office of Saint Peter's, to rejoice paternaIIy in your merits which we'II always have at heart." "Rise, my son." "The servant of God's servants is before you, although burdened with the keys to Saint Peter's." "Time has come for a great renewal of the Church of Christ, yet in the authoritative teachings of tradition and meekness of the illumination of the holy Spirit." "We believe the Church must watch over the brilliant, but not the right to stop them." "exactly, freedom is the only condition in which to express..." "You will be our welcome guest, our heart beats with paternal joy." " Thank you." " We expect great things from you." "I have a book I'd Iike you examine..." "It will be cause for unutterabIe consolation and sweetest hopes to be able to show the world that only CathoIics know how to face the problems of the new times." "My "dialogue of Two Chief world Systems" is dedicated to you..." "The Church holds scholars and artists in utmost regard, and desires to gather their experience and guard their freedoms." "There are important problems..." "The Church is joyful to welcome the tormented spirit of thinkers into the bright spheres of Divine Grace." "In his book GaIiIei makes fun of the Church and ridicules the Pope." "No, you're wrong." "Yet the Church's reasoning is uttered by a ridiculous character." "GaIiIei toys with the Church, first he lets us talk and then he ridicules." "He ridicules us and you." "We wanted to show science discussing and theorizing, but the Church should have the final word." "AII that's in the book, but through a ridiculous character." "The book was printed with the imprimatur of the papal Court and with a splendid dedication to Your holiness." "It might seem the Church betrayed its principles allowing the book." "Father Riccardi, how could you have given our imprimatur ?" "I read the book from top to bottom and suggested a few corrections." "I hadn't decided to give our imprimatur, but your secretary..." "That book is not irreverent, it corresponds to the program of renewal..." "Forget the program, is it true the book ridicuIes our person ?" "absolutely not, it's not true !" "We've been understanding with artists and scientists," "GaIiIei merits our esteem, don't slander him." "Your holiness is too tolerant and GaIiIei took advantage." " He's as dangerous as Luther." " That's absurd !" "The heretic plague is spreading even in here." "cardinal Borgia, I forbid you to insinuate this suspicion." "Your holiness has to know how things stand." "Your pontificate is weak with heretics, GaIiIei..." "cardinal Borgia, what do you mean ?" "Spain is no Ionger willing to tolerate your politics." "We're not obliged to take orders from the King of Spain." "You can't deny, the victories of the Spanish army are restoring CathoIicism and crushing Protestants." "The war in Spain is a missionary war." "Why don't you ally with Spain instead of supporting the French who are allies of Protestant countries ?" "Spain isn't conducting a missionary war." "As Spanish ambassador and Prince of the Church," "I must warn you against the dangers of your European politics." "You want the Popes to bow to the King of Spain's will." "The damage your politics is doing to catholicism will faII on your person." "You take advantage of your immunity to offend Christ's vicar." "We believe Spain cares less for the fate of the Faith then it does for its dream of hegemony over Europe." "Father CIavio and Father MaIpertio, and we astronomers, have acknowledged the mathematical truth." "The mathematical truth of GaIiIei's discoveries is irrelevant." "GaIiIei wants to dictate law to the Church." "He's a scientist who shows his discoveries and new ideas." "Can today's Church demand we think like yesterday ?" "Our brothers in missions in Asia and America teach the Copernicus system, why can't we accept it in Europe ?" "How could we ?" "The Church here is torn by schism." "Are you forgetting the Protestants ?" "They too demand to interpret the bible freely." "Saying GaIiIei is right increases confusion and encourages Protestant reform." "And if GaIiIei is right ?" "It's plausible." "What do we know about the universe ?" "Do we know where God is ?" "Why do these questions seem absurd and frightening to us ?" "Father MaIpertio, those are arrogant questions." "The Church replied to them long ago." "We must defend the Church's authority, first and foremost." "galileo, you small man, what do you think you see in the Heavens ?" "What foolish arrogance makes you subvert the authority of the Book of God ?" "With what pride do you seduce minds ?" "Mathematics is an art of the devil." "But you place it above and against the word of the Prophets !" "With GaIiIei, heresy has come to florence." "But we, friars of St. Dominic, humble servants named "black and white dogs", who guard the door to the Church so the devil won't enter, we raise our voices, give the alarm and publicly say for all to hear:" "those who say the sun is in the center and the Earth moves against the authority of the holy Scriptures, is a heretic, and guilty of heresy !" " Jesus Christ be praised." " The Inquisitor..." "I have orders to stop the press and confiscate the printed copies." "You gave us permission to print." " Permission is revoked." " But after all this work..." "The order comes from Rome." "Thank you." "Bernini, draw my hair well." "Dear Mr. Ambassador, the Spanish want to poison us." "Why ?" "Because we're not their servants." "You're good friends with GaIiIei." "Of course." "We were too, but we were deceived." "Come here, Bernini." "He betrayed our trust by writing that book." "That's incredible, it was dedicated to you." "GaIiIei is very clever." "We must entrust you with an unpleasant task." "Warn the Grand Duke of Tuscany that GaIiIei will be summoned before the holy Office." "He'II object, GaIiIei is a Tuscan subject." "Yes, but the Grand Duke won't object, he needs us, doesn't he ?" "And if GaIiIei should refuse to come ?" "That's why we ask the Grand Duke's cooperation and yours, don't alarm GaIiIei sooner than necessary." "will he be told what he's accused of ?" "The holy Office never proclaims its secrets." "He knows his mistakes, he must come to Rome, even by force." "I've already written my defense." " Those friars are still there." " Who knows why." "They've been here since yesterday." "They're keeping an eye on me." "Why ?" "They're afraid I'II run and not go to Rome, that's why they're spying on me." "Why should you run ?" "What have you done ?" "I haven't done anything wrong." "If you have a clear conscience you shouldn't be afraid." "You're right." "So the Grand Duke won't defend me." "He won't go against the Pope." "Take my advice and run." " Why should he ?" "And where ?" " To my house in Venice." "Or to the Morosinis, they're worried about you." "You're all alarmed for nothing." "If the Inquisition gets you, it won't let go." "I'm an old man, I don't want to wander the world any more, persecuted for the rest of my Iife." "If Sagredo's right..." "I want to go to Rome." "If I don't, I'II be excommunicated and they'II be on my back." "I'd rather go and defend myself, explaining my reasons." "Anyway, I'm a member of the Church, aren't I ?" "There." "If anything happens, write to Sagredo." "Have him come for this stuff immediately." " tell him to get it printed abroad." " Okay, don't worry." "There won't be any need, you'II see." "Turn to him for anything you need." "Father charles will lodge here with you." " Jesus Christ be praised." " Forever praised." "Do you need anything ?" "I must speak to the Tuscan Ambassador immediately." "tell him I'm here, we're very good friends." "I want to speak to the Pope, he's a friend of mine." "Say my name and ask him to receive me." " GaIiIei !" " Thank heavens !" "Listen." "Something has to be done, I must speak to the Pope." "alright, nothing's very clear, but I'II try anyway." "Meantime, be cautious, comply with them." "It will end sooner, believe me." "I don't understand." "It's best not to oppose them." "Why not ?" "It's worse if you argue." "Who do they think they are ?" "DIALOGUE OF GALILEO GALILEI LINCEO" " Do you recognize this book ?" " certainly, it's mine." "Were you in Rome in 1616 ?" "Yes." "Had you been summoned by the holy Office ?" "No, I came for my own reasons." "That year the theory of the motion of Earth was condemned, did you know ?" "I believe cardinal BeIIarmine mentioned it, but he didn't specify it was a mandatory decree," "I mean, binding." " What did he say exactly ?" " It was a Iong time ago." "How can I remember his exact words after so long ?" "Listen." ""In the presence of cardinal BeIIarmine," "Commissary Segizi imposed an injunction on GaIiIei, in the name of the Pope and the Congregation of the holy Office, to abandon Copernican opinion and neither sustain it, teach it, or defend it, verbally or in writing." "GaIiIei agreed to this precept and promised to obey."" " Friday, February 26, 1616..." " No !" "cardinal BeIIarmine only advised me, there was no record." "Show me my signature." "It's not here." "An injunction by the holy Office must have a signature." "This detracts nothing from its effect." "It was shown to him and that's enough." "No one showed me anything, I remember very well." "Who's that up there ?" "Who ?" "A brother." "Take this letter to the Pope." "You don't write the Pope like this !" "He's not your brother." "You'd better rewrite it, start like this." ""Prostrate in kissing Your holy slipper, professing to be a humble servant of the holy Roman Church," "I implore and invoke Your holiness..." et cetera." "Et cetera, et cetera..." "The holy slipper..." "GaIiIei even accepts theories of heretics like GiIbert, who says incomprehensible things about the Earth." "According to him, Earth acts as a magnet." " What's a magnet ?" " Forget it, it's heretical stuff." "We profess to deal with things we're not competent in." "We haven't even read GaIiIei's book." "We, Your Eminence, have." "In it, he states the theory of the motion of Earth." "The corpus delicti is disobedience to BeIIarmine's injunction, that is, intentional malice." " GaIiIei denies the injunction." " But it's his book." "Then let's condemn the book to the Index." "The Pope's will was specific and we must respond." "Of course, we'II do everything possible." "In all trials, the accused has the right to defend himself, but here I can't even discuss." "Truth is not up for discussion." "Isn't science truth ?" "Why not consider it ?" "The Church alone is guardian of the truth." "alright, Eminence, but I'd Iike you to hear what I..." "You listen, you're putting our authority in doubt." "That's unfair, I've always respected it." "But that's not the question here." "Because the laws of nature are what they are and no authority can change them." "I've tried to understand and study them, is that a sin ?" "Why did God give us eyes to see ?" "Why have brains, if not to think ?" "We want no lessons, stick to the questions." "Your good faith is not questioned, but you are in error." "Make a nice confession." "I haven't done anything !" "You say you're a good catholic." "A good catholic, yes." "would a good catholic bring the word of the Church into question ?" "You're giving in to them ?" "I would, if I doubted my discoveries." "I'd Iike to rest now." "Poor old man, you can't tell good from evil, take my advice." "Your advice scares me." "You want to trap me like a rat, no !" "The Church will have to understand me sooner or later." "It will, this is just a nightmare." "I don't know what else to tell you." "I'm sorry, may the Lord's will be done." "Listen..." "Have you tried looking through this ?" "What do I care, does that thing mean so much ?" "Yes, it means a Iot." "You must be nuts, they're all fed up with you." "tell me, how old are you ?" "Twenty, I've studied, books don't mention that thing." "Do you think you're a prophet ?" "They say you're ambitious, don't you know ambition is a sin ?" "You were the Pope's personal friend, wasn't that enough ?" "How can I absolve you if you say our theologians are wrong ?" "Are all your judges incompetent ?" "Or are they jesting with you ?" "No, I don't know anything." "I don't understand anything anymore." "You have no faith." "Why not ?" "I'm a man of faith." "The first virtue of a man of faith is humble submission, full obedience to the Church." "Yes, but..." "Father, I need to understand." "You want to understand too many things." "Let me speak with the Inquisitors right away." " What are you thinking of ?" " I think I can convince them now." "I forgot to say the Inquisitors will be waiting for you in an hour." "I'm against this whole thing." "The majority decided and the Pope has been informed." "AII of us here are ready to put the accused to torture so he can receive help in confessing the truth, and repent." "GaIiIei, in the name of God, repent." "Repent, in the name of God !" "Write:" ""We give the accused time to prepare his repentance."" "I want to tell you what I think." "I'm sorry I came here like a fool to submit myself." "I believe what I wrote." "I believe it and can't take it back, it's good for the Church to hear me." "But the Church won't." "It would rather say I sinned, but about what ?" "What have I done ?" "And you, sitting there like gods, talk to me honestly." "After committing an act of moral violence on me, can you say you have no guilt or sin ?" "I don't believe so." "I'm not the only poor mortal soul here, you are too." "We're all poor mortal souls." "Even those like you with thrones, silk garments, rings, thinking they're superior to other men." "I was convinced that the Church pooled truth, not ignorance, but I was wrong." "Or maybe this court has nothing to do with the Church." "No, I don't think so." "Don't look at me as if I were the devil, I'm an ordinary man." "But I want to tell you." "If anyone here has seen the devil, that person is me." "I've seen him in some of your faces, and not just today." "What are you hiding ?" "Are you interested or did they say to take it away ?" "Charity." "The child is Faith." "Like this." "No, Iike that." "Try the other arm." "More reclining to feel the child's weight." "Hope, a little girl." "Justice, inspired." "Other arm on your abdomen, Iike this." "Look far away, in the distance." "placid expression." "More severe." "Temperance..." "Fortitude." "From this model, I hope to create, according to your wishes, the monument which will welcome your most holy remains." " 1 years from now." " Thank you, my dear Bernini." "Justice... good." "beautiful." "Charity, fine, excellent, wonderful." "Hope as a child, marvelous." "Temperance." "The base will be red marble from Levanto on bardigIio." "The column for your statue," "Apuan cipoIin with porphyry inlay." "For the statue's garments, I thought green marble from Susa and for the flesh, black from valencia." "The urn in Portoro marble." "On the urn, Death in Apuan cipoIin with a parchment in hand and on the parchment, your name in gold letters." "beautiful, perfect." "Fine, yes..." "holiness." "It was so urgent to talk to us ?" "GaIiIei gave in, we can close this case." " We want exemplary punishment." " But Your holiness..." "believe us." "Our paternal heart suffers, but we cannot listen." "No, that's still not right !" "He looks asleep, it needs a more ample gesture, more alive." "Like this ?" "Like this, yes." "Good !" " A gesture protecting the world." " Perfect." "Look at him, he's in costume !" "Go ahead." "We, by the Mercy of God and the holy Roman Church," "cardinals, general Inquisitors against heretic iniquity, seeing that you, galileo, son of Vincenzo GaIiIei, guilty of spreading the false doctrine of Copernicus and thus violating the order given you, we say, pronounce, declare" "you have rendered yourself vehemently suspect of heresy." "But we say you can be absolved from this accusation, provided that first, with a sincere heart and unfeigned faith, you abjure, curse and detest before us, the aforesaid errors and heresies in the form to be prescribed by us to you." "And so that this pernicious error not remain unpunished and you may be an example to others, that they may abstain from similar deIinquencies, we ordain with public edict that the book "dialogues" by GaIiIei be prohibited." "We condemn you to the formal prison of our pleasure and to prayers of penitence, reserving the liberty to moderate or commute the aforesaid penalty." "I'd Iike to say this." "I'm ready to confess anything you'd Iike." "I'm a Christian and want to remain such, despite what's been done to me and despite all those who didn't want to understand me." "Read this, on your knees." ""I, galileo, son of Vincenzo GaIiIei, deceased, on my knees before you, most eminent, most reverent cardinals and general Inquisitors..." "With my right hand on the gospel," "I swear that in the past I believed," "I still do and will always believe all that is preached and imposed" "by the catholic and apostolic holy Roman Church." "But being heavily suspected... suspected of heresy for having held that the sun is at the center of the universe and it moves," "and Earth isn't at the center of the universe and it moves..." "Desiring to erase from the minds of Your Eminences this terrible suspicion," "here before you I abjure, curse and detest the aforesaid errors and heresies." "And I swear that in the future" "I will not affirm such things, either verbally or in writing." "If I ever encounter any heretic or man suspected of heresy, I..." "I will report him to the court." "I swear submission with the greatest humility to all the penalties and punishments foreseen by the holy Canons for such delinquents.""