Rome and Galileo

Rome and Galileo

 

Although Galileo Galilei, the astronomer, physicist and engineer, spent  most of his life in Tuscany, Rome figured prominently

Born near Pisa in 1564, he moved to Florence in 1610. His many interests in speed, velocity, the tides, and motion are surpassed by the amazing discoveries with his telescope. His contributions to observational astronomy include the telescopic confirmation of the phases of Venus, the observation of the four largest moons of Jupiter, Saturn's rings, and the analysis of sunspots. Many consider him the father of modern science.

But it would be his interest in the theories of Copernicus, that is, the idea that the earth moved around the sun, that would cause him the most grief. In fact, the Catholic Church held to the views of Ptolemy and Aristotle, reinforced by the Bible that the earth was at the center of the universe. As early as 1616 he was cautioned by the Church not to “hold or defend” Copernican theory. 



For about a decade, Galileo stayed well away from the controversy. Then in 1632 he published his Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, with formal authorization from the Inquisition and papal permission. The book is presented as a series of discussions, over a span of four days, among two philosophers and a layman. One of these, Simplicio, presents the traditional views and the arguments against the Copernican position. The other philosopher argues for the Copernican position and his arguments are more clearly based on observation. Unfortunately for his relationship with the Pope, Galileo put the words of Urban VIII into the mouth of Simplicio. 

Galileo had alienated one of his biggest and most powerful supporters, the Florentine Pope Urban VIII, and was called to Rome to defend his writings in September 1632. He finally arrived in February 1633, where he stayed as a guest at the Villa Medici, the residence of the Florentine ambassador, Niccolini. Villa Medici is situated near the top of the Spanish Steps in Rome and is now the home of the French Academy. (See the description in Walk 4 of the book Walk Rome.)

Villa Medici and gardens in Rome

On April 8, Niccolini informed Galileo that he would stand trial before ten cardinals. A more difficult chore for Niccolini was to break the news to him that the merits of his case, as a practical matter, had been decided already; all he could do was submit.
Four days later, Galileo officially surrendered to the Holy Office and faced Father Firenzuola, the Commissary-General of the Inquisition. Firenzuola informed Galileo that for the duration of the proceedings against him he would be imprisoned in the Inquisition building. This was in the convent of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, which at that time was attached to the church of the same name. (A hundred years later Bernini would place his celebrated Elephant obelisk in the piazza in front of the church.)

Bernini's elephant in front of Santa Maria sopra Minerva

During the trial he admitted that, contrary to his intention, a reader of his Dialogue could have obtained the impression that it was intended to be a defense of Copernicanism. On the morning of June 22, 1633, Galileo, dressed in the white shirt of penitence, entered the large hall of the Inquisition building. He was required to recite a formal abjuration. He knelt and listened to his sentence: "Whereas you, Galileo, the son of the late Vincenzo Galilei, Florentine, aged seventy years, were in the year 1615 denounced to this Holy Office for holding as true the false doctrine....." The reading continued for seventeen paragraphs, and ordered him to submit to house arrest for the rest of his life. 

Two days later, Galileo was released to the custody of the Florentine ambassador. His book was prohibited and he went back to his home in Arcetri where he died in 1642.

Galileo is recognized for making important contributions to the study of motion and astronomy. His work influenced later scientists such as Sir Isaac Newton, who developed the law of universal gravitation. In 1992, the Vatican formally acknowledged its mistake in condemning Galileo.