Book burnings and the Index of Forbidden Books

From 1233 papal legates and the Inquisition had Jewish books confiscated and publicly burned, in Paris 12,000 volumes in a single day. In 1515 the Lateran Council made all book printing subject to church examination, on pain of excommunication and destruction of the books. In 1553 Pope Julius III ordered all copies of the Talmud belonging to Jews to be confiscated and burned; the burnings deliberately began on the Jewish New Year. The first Roman Index of 1559 condemned entire authors with all their writings and listed 62 printers. Only in 1966 did the Index lose the force of church law.

Period

1233-1966 (733 years)

Country

France, Italy, Spain, Vatican City

Institutions

Holy See
Roman Inquisition (Holy Office)

Category

Anti-Judaism, Persecution, Censorship

Level of evidence

A Primary source · what does this mean?

Persons

Paul IV (Pope)
Julius III (Pope)
Leo XIII (Pope)

Background

Course of events

1. The first Roman Index of Forbidden Books appeared in 1559 under Pope Paul IV.
   Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 7 (1910), Abschnitt „Index of Prohibited Books“

   „The first Roman "Index of Prohibited Books" (Index librorum prohibitorum), published in 1559 under Paul IV“

   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Geschichte

   „In 1557, and again in 1559, Pope Paul IV., through the Inquisition at Rome, published what may be regarded as the first Roman Index“

2. In 1515 the Lateran Council prescribed that no work may be printed without prior examination by the church authority; the penalty for unauthorised printing was excommunication as well as confiscation and destruction of the books.
   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Geschichte

   „in 1515 the Lateran council formulated the decree De Impressione Librorum, which required that no work should be printed without previous examination by the proper ecclesiastical authority, the penalty of unlicensed printing being excommunication of the culprit, and confiscation and destruction of the books“

3. The Index of 1559 condemned entire authors together with all their writings and, wholesale, all anonymous books since 1519; a list of 62 printers was appended.
   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Geschichte

   „authors condemned with all their writings; prohibited books, the authors of which are known; pernicious books by anonymous authors. An excessively severe general condemnation was applied to all anonymous books published since 1519; and a list of sixty-two printers of heretical books was appended“

Why? Justification and motives (according to the sources)

1. The Church justified the Index by the protection of the integrity of faith and morals.
   Evidence: Kongregation für die Glaubenslehre, Absatz 1

   „quo Ecclesia ad integritatem fidei et morum, iuxta divinum mandatum, tuendam hucusque usa est“

Response of the Church

1. On 14 June 1966 the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith declared that the Index no longer had the force of church law with penalties.
   Evidence: Kongregation für die Glaubenslehre, Absatz 2

   „eundem tamen non amplius vim legis ecclesiasticae habere cum adiectis censuris“

   Evidence: Kongregation für die Glaubenslehre, Datierung

   „Datum Romae, ex Aedibus S. Officii, d. 14 iunii, a. 1966“

2. According to the same notification, the Index retains a moral obligation for the conscience of the faithful.
   Evidence: Kongregation für die Glaubenslehre, Absatz 2

   „nuntiat Indicem suum vigorem moralem servare“

See also

• 1199-1917 · 718 years

  Prohibition and restriction of the Bible in the vernacular for lay people

  • France
  • Spain
  • Vatican City
  • Censorship
• 1231-1542 · 311 years

  The Inquisition: origins, procedure, punishments

  • Germany
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Vatican City
  • Expropriation
  • Torture
  • Heresy trials
  • Persecution
• Person 28 Jun 1476-18 Aug 1559 · 83 years old

  Pope Paul IV (Gian Pietro Carafa)

  • Italy
  • Vatican City
  • Anti-Judaism
  • Expropriation
  • Heresy trials
  • Persecution
• 21 Jul 1542-7 Dec 1965 · 423 years

  Roman Inquisition (Holy Office)

  • Italy
  • Vatican City
  • Heresy trials
  • Persecution
  • Censorship
• Person 1548-1600 · about 52 years old

  Giordano Bruno

  • Italy
  • Heresy trials
  • Murder
• 1555-1870 · 315 years

  Ghetto of Rome in the Papal States

  • Italy
  • Vatican City
  • Anti-Judaism
  • Persecution
• Person 15 Feb 1564-8 Jan 1642 · 77 years old

  Galileo Galilei

  • Italy
  • Admission
  • Heresy trials
  • Censorship

Original documents to read

1. Church document
   Kongregation für die Glaubenslehre: Notificatio de Indicis librorum prohibitorum conditione, 14 June 1966. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 11 Oct 2026)

Scholarly literature and reference works

1. Reference work
   Jewish Encyclopedia (1901–1906): Confiscation of Hebrew Books. Original (retrieved 11 Oct 2026)
2. Reference work
   Jewish Encyclopedia (1901–1906): Approbation. Original (retrieved 11 Oct 2026)
3. Reference work
   The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 7 (1910): Index of Prohibited Books, 1 January 1910. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 11 Oct 2026)
4. Reference work
   Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911): Index Librorum Prohibitorum, 1 January 1911. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 11 Oct 2026)

Last changed on 22 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.