Galileo Galilei (1564 – 1642) is one of the founders of science, especially experimental methods. Because of his research and the results (especially astronomical), he came into conflict with some of the then “scientific-educational institutions and individuals” in which the top of the Catholic Church was deeply influenced. This clash to the present day provokes discussions, controversy and various interpretations of the very cause of the conflict, its occurrence, and its consequences. This lecture is a review of the main events in this conflict, from the time they were to date.
In 1610, Galileo constructed a telescope and began his astronomical research and discoveries that completely changed the present idea of the universe. He publishes two books about his discoveries, which cause great attention and fierce discussions among scientists and theologians. Copernicus’s idea, published seventy years earlier, that the Sun is the center of the world, and that the planet, including the Earth, spins around it, receiving Galilean discoveries very strong support. From a little interesting mathematical hypothesis becomes reality, which leads to the need to thoroughly change the educational content and the theological interpretations of some parts of the Bible. This provokes strong resistance from prominent scientists and theologians, and Galileo brings fierce opponents among the high-ranking clergy. The chronology of the event from 1610 to March 1616 will be presented when the Congregation of the Indices of Forbidden Books delivers a decree prohibiting the teaching of Copernicus theory and an examination of the events that led to the trial of Galileo in 1633 when it was proclaimed heretical and placed in life-long imprisonment.
What was the Church’s relationship with Galilee and the heliocentric system of the world since his death to this day? From this long period, the case of Settele from the 1820s (when the Church finally dropped out of geocentric theory), the influence of the rapid development of science in the nineteenth century, century religion in the religious world and, finally, some sort of attempt at Galilee’s rehabilitation in the 20th century (Pope Paschini, Pope John Paul II).