Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A historical ecclesiastical institution: The Congregation of the Inquisition was a department of the Roman Catholic Church established in Italy in 1542. Its primary purpose was to combat Protestantism and heresy, acting as a judicial body for doctrinal matters.
   • The Roman Inquisition: This term is often used synonymously with the Roman Inquisition, which was the system of tribunals governed by this congregation. It is distinct from the earlier Spanish Inquisition.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Congregation of the Inquisition was established by Pope Paul III.
  • Historians study the records of the Congregation of the Inquisition to understand Counter-Reformation policies.
  • It was the Roman Inquisition, governed by this congregation, that put Galileo on trial for heresy.

Advanced Usage

• Historical reference: The term is used primarily in historical and academic contexts to refer to this specific institution and its activities during the Counter-Reformation.
  • The decrees issued by the Congregation of the Inquisition had a profound impact on intellectual life in Italy.

Variants and Related Words

• Roman Inquisition (proper noun): The system of tribunals and the broader judicial process administered by the Congregation.
  • The Roman Inquisition focused on doctrinal purity within Catholic territories.
• Holy Office (proper noun): A later name for the same congregation, used after 1908.
  • The Congregation of the Inquisition was renamed the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office.

Synonyms

• Roman Inquisition: The judicial system it operated.
• The Holy Office: Its successor name.

Notes on Meaning

• This term refers specifically to the administrative body (the congregation) created in Rome, not to the localized trials themselves. The trials (e.g., Galileo's) were conducted under its authority.
• It is a proper noun and is typically capitalized.

Noun

1. an inquisition set up in Italy in 1542 to curb the number of Protestants
   • it was the Roman Inquisition that put Galileo on trial