THE JUDGMENT AGAINST GALILEO 



To assert that the sun, immobile and without local movement, 

 occupies the centre of the world is an absurd proposition, false in 

 philosophy, and moreover, heretical, since it is contrary to the 

 testimony of the Scriptures. It is equally absurd and false in 

 philosophy to say that the earth is not immobile in the centre of 

 the world, and this proposition, considered theologically, is at least 

 an error of faith. 



Congregation of the Index, 1633. 



THE ABJURATION 



" I, Galileo Galilei, son of the late Vincenzo Galilei, of Florence, 

 aged seventy years, being brought personally to judgment, and 

 kneeling before you Most Eminent and Most Reverend Lords, 

 Cardinals, General Inquisitors of the universal Christian republic 

 against heretical depravity, having before my eyes the Holy 

 Gospels, which I touch with my own hands, swear that I have 

 always believed, and now believe, and with the help of God will in 

 future believe, every article which the Holy Catholic and Apostolic 

 Church of Rome holds, teaches, and preaches. But because I have 

 been enjoined by this Holy Office altogether to abandon the false 

 opinion which maintains that the sun is the centre and immovable, 

 and forbidden to hold, defend, or teach the said false doctrine in 

 any manner . . . with a sincere heart and unfeigned faith, I abjure, 

 curse, and detest the said errors and heresies, and generally every 

 other error and sect contrary to Holy Church ; and I swear that 

 I will never more in future say or assert anything verbally, or in 

 writing, which may give rise to a similar suspicion of me ; but if I 

 shall know any heretic, or any suspected of heresy, that I will de- 

 nounce him to this Holy Office, or to the Inquisitor or Ordinary of 

 the place where I may be. ... At Rome, in the convent of Minerva, 

 22nd June 1633, I, Galileo Galilei, have abjured as above with my 

 own hand." 



