Pope Alexander VI

In 1501, perhaps spurred on by the Malleus Maleficarum, Pope Alexander VI wrote a letter to Angelo of Verona, the Inquisitor of Lombardy. Alexander VI was concerned with the rumours of witches in Lombardy. This concern was "possibly inspired by the evils the Malleus had palpably demonstrated, and certainly by the notorious reluctance of northern Italian prelates to allow the authority of the Inquisition into their districts" (Alexander VI 190, 191).

The letter to Angelo of Verona, called the Bull Cum acceperimus, went as follows:

As we have learned that in the province of Lombardy many people of both sexes give themselves over to diverse incantations and devilish superstitions in order to procure many wicked things by their venery and vain rites, to destroy men, beasts, and fields, to spread great scandal, and to induce grievous errors, we decree, in order both to fulfill our pastoral office from our high commission and to restrain these evils, scandals, and errors, that they shall cease. That is the reason why we send to you, commit to you, and order you and your successors appointed in Lombardy our full confidence in the Lord, that you may seek out diligently those people of both sexes (either by yourself or with the aid of a company which you shall choose) and secure and punish them through the medium of justice. And so that you may be better able to fulfill this commission, we give to you against them full and sufficient powers, notwithstanding all other constitutions and apostolic orders, indulgences, and ordinary concessions which have been accorded at other times, and notwithstanding all other orders to the contrary of these, whatever they may be (Kors & Peters 190).

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Pope Alexander VI copyrighted 1996-1998 to Shantell Powell.