A Secret Papal Brief on Tyrannicide during the Counterreformation

A recent article on tyrannicide in an authoritative Catholic reference work states that there exist few official pronouncements of the Church on this controversial subject2. The only ruling on the legitimacy of putting to death a tyrannical ruler mentioned is the highly ambiguous decree of the Counc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Church history
Main Author: Lewy, Guenter 1923- (Author)
Format: Electronic/Print Article
Language:English
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Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Cambridge University Press [1957]
In: Church history
IxTheo Classification:KAG Church history 1500-1648; Reformation; humanism; Renaissance
Further subjects:B Päpstliche Verlautbarung
B papal statement
B Modern Era
B Früh
B Tyrannicide
B Early
B Modern age
B Tyrannentötung
Online Access: Volltext (doi)
Parallel Edition:Electronic
Description
Summary:A recent article on tyrannicide in an authoritative Catholic reference work states that there exist few official pronouncements of the Church on this controversial subject2. The only ruling on the legitimacy of putting to death a tyrannical ruler mentioned is the highly ambiguous decree of the Council of Constance in 1415. In the interest of greater accuracy and fuller historical knowledge it may be in place to bring to light a secret brief on tyrannicide issued in 1615 by Pope Paul V in which he approved and renewed the decree of Constance. This brief assumes special significance in view of the fact that until then the earlier decree had never been explicitly confirmed by any pope and thus could be considered as not binding. Moreover, the circumstances under which the brief was issued have received inadequate, and sometimes deliberately distorted, treatment that calls for clarification and correction.
ISSN:0009-6407
Contains:Enthalten in: Church history
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.2307/3161412