Vatican publishes historical volume on the Inquisition

Published: 2004-06-15

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Saying the church is unafraid to face the truth about the past, the Vatican has published a thick volume of historical papers delivered at its groundbreaking 1998 symposium on the Inquisition. The book includes the contributions of more than 30 specialists chosen for their historical expertise. Vatican officials said they hoped the 788-page collection would provoke pastoral reflection, stimulate new research and help deflate some of the popular "myths" about the Inquisition's excesses. Pope John Paul II greeted publication of the works June 15 with a letter underlining the church's "spirit of repentance" as it reflects on how Christians turned to "methods of intolerance and even violence in the service of the truth." He added that this spirit of repentance includes a firm resolve to witness the truth in the future through "evangelical witness."

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