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He published his astronomical disco- ther apologetically, that he could no As a young man, Barberini had even
veries during 1610. A year later he longer disseminate his opinions written a poem praising Galileo.
demonstrated his telescope to the about Copernicus.
mathematicians of the Vatican in In 1624 Galileo went to Rome and
Rome. Encouraged by the flattering The prevailing belief was that orbits asked his friend the Pope to revoke
reception he received, in 1613 he pu- of the planets were perfect circles. the decree of 1616. Urban did not ac-
blished a book in which he dared to What is surprising is that Galileo cept to do this but did allow Galileo
state that Copernicus was right and did not pay attention to the laws of to write a book about "the systems
Ptolemy, Aristotle and Plato were Johannes Kepler which were first of the world" in a general manner
wrong. Galileo was a forceful writer published in 1609. By analysing the in order to show that Catholics were
and wrote this book in Italian (and astronomical observations of Tycho perfectly aware of the work of Coper-
not Latin), so that it had an impact Brahe, Kepler discovered that the nicus. Nevertheless, the preface and
well beyond academic circles. Uni- planets have elliptical orbits. This the conclusions of the book would be
versity lecturers teaching the works would have been useful to Galileo those dictated by Urban. The Pope
of Aristotle understandably saw since it showed that the geocentric was in a difficult situation because
this book as a threat to their liveli- models of Aristotle and Ptolemy a group within the church said that
hood and tried to throw doubt on were impossible, and thus supported he was not doing enough to defend
Galileo's discoveries. They said that the theory of Copernicus. Catholicism.
he was mistaken about what he saw,
that they were illusions created by For the next seven years Galileo Galileo returned to Florence and
the telescope itself, that his views lived in studious retirement in his spent several years working on his
were blasphemous and contradicted house near Florence. However, manuscript, which was published in
the Bible -- which was 1632 including the authori-
suddenly promoted to zation of the Catholic cen-
the status of a scientific sors since it did, indeed,
treatise on astronomy. include the Pope's conclu-
Galileo called this "the sions. Due to an outbreak
logic of desperation". He of plague in Italy, Dialogue
wrote to the authorities concerning the Two Chief
in Rome pointing out Systems of the World was
that it would be terrible published in Florence and
if it were made a sin to not in Rome where the
believe in something that Pope's censors could keep
was scientifically correct. an eye on it. It was received
He travelled to Rome with tumultuous acclaim
and begged the autho- throughout Europe as a
rities to make a change literary and philosophical
in doctrine allowing for masterpiece -- and quickly
radical new discoveries; sold out.
a number of religious ex-
perts supported him. Galileo had dutifully in-
cluded the official preface
However, at this time the and conclusions, but his
arguments
Roman Catholic Church enthusiastic
was locked in a bitter glorifying the Copernican
struggle with another system were so overwhel-
branch of Christianity-- ming that it made the
Protestantism - which Pope's contribution look
had thrown cherished be- ludicrous. Urban VIII ex-
liefs and institutions into ploded in great anger and
doubt. Faced with this ordered a prosecution. It
threat, the Catholics had should be recalled that,
convened the Council of already in 1616, Galileo had
Trent (1545-1563) to try and stem in 1623 he published another book been warned that it was a very risky
the Protestant tide. The Pope's chief which sought to explain astronomi- business to promote the ideas of Co-
theologian, Cardinal Bellarmine, cal reality. The book included the pernicus.
fearing yet another threat to under- revolutionary phrase: "The Book
mine Catholic doctrine, decided to of Nature is written in mathema- Although he was now an elderly
have Copernicus's findings declared tical characters." It was dedicated man in poor health he was ordered
"false" and his books banned. Bel- to the new Pope Urban VIII, who to stand trial in Rome. It was a fore-
larmine granted a personal audience as Maffeo Barberini had been a gone conclusion that he would be
to Galileo in 1616 and told him, ra- long-time acquaintance of Galileo. found guilty, but he hoped to be let

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