Italian theologian born in Montepulciano, Tuscany, one of the main opponents of the Reformation. He studied in Rome and Padua and joined the Society of Jesus (1560). He was ordained in Louvain, Belgium (1570), where he began teaching theology. Again in Italy he was appointed cardinal (1599) by Pope Clement VIII and Archbishop of Capua (1602). A consultant to the Holy Office, he was one of the leaders in the Inquisition's case against Galileo, advising him to view Copernicus' astronomical theory as a hypothesis rather than defending it.
He later opined that the theory was false and erroneous, a position officially adopted by the church (1616). Before he died, he distributed all his goods to the poor. He wrote an autobiography (1675), but his main writings were only collected for a long time. then in Disputationes de controversiis Christianae fidei adversus huius temporis haereticos (1870-1874). He died in Rome, was canonized (1930) and is celebrated on May 17th.
Picture copied from the website INSTITUTE AND MUSEUM OF HISTORY OF SCIENCE, FLORENCE ITALY:
http://galileo.imss.firenze.it/index.html
Source: http://www.dec.ufcg.edu.br/biografias/
Order R - Biography - Brazil School
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/biografia/roberto-francesco-romolo.htm
