From the 5th to the 15th century, the world experienced a period called the Middle Ages. During this period, an institution that predominated in economic, social and cultural aspects was the Catholic Church. Guided by faith, the religious organized evangelistic expeditions (Crusades), seized power (Holy Empire) and committed some atrocities in the name of God, including the Holy Inquisition.
The Holy Inquisition is understood as the judgment that the Church made in order to separate Christians from heretics. Anyone who did not accept the imposed rules, who challenged the power of the Church, or who did not accept Jesus Christ as their savior would be persecuted and taken to the Inquisition. It consisted of a judgment in which the defendant had to ask forgiveness for his sins and receive his sentence, which in most cases was to be burned alive. The act of asking for forgiveness became known as the Auto de fé.
The Auto de fé was the ceremony in which the defendants were required to participate, prior to their conviction. It started with a sermon and, soon after, the defendants had to ask forgiveness for their crimes without the right to defense. Then they walked towards a courtyard, flanked by spectators from all over the kingdom. First went the defendants who saved themselves from the fire. On his clothes was a painting of an upside-down flame. Then the condemned defendants went to the stake. The painting was of an upward-facing flame (illustrating what awaited them). Last came the so-called heretics, defendants who did not accept the salvation of their souls or who, due to the gravity of their crimes, did not receive pardon. On their garments were illustrations of flames, snakes and demons. The ceremony ended in the flames of the fire. The spectators, for the most part, cheered.
In 2000, Pope John Paul II, the highest leader of the Church at the time, asked for forgiveness for several crimes committed by the institution, including the Holy Inquisition.
By Demercino Junior
Graduated in History