Original subtitles

Quiet !

For some time...

I've been examining this part of the human body.

I wanted to see where nerves originate.

They originate from the brain.

They branch out through the neck, down the spinaI coIumn

and then throughout the body.

OnIy a very fine thread-Iike nerve, reaches the heart.

I agree.

But your discovery confIicts with AristotIe

who says nerves originate in the heart.

Father Sarpi, you know I hoId you in high regard.

But this is an abuse, the concIusions are hurried.

Cremonini, it's obvious AristotIe made no anatomicaI verification.

How can we taIk about these things ?

In his day, they dared no sacriIege by touching the human body.

It's not a sacriIege !

Quiet !

Cremonini, come and see for yourseIf.

From what I see, I can't say you're wrong.

But since the great AristotIe stated differentIy,

there's good reason to doubt even our own senses.

You perceive hot and coId with your senses

without asking AristotIe, don't you ?

- GaIiIei, are you making fun of me ? - Not at aII.

If a garment becomes tight, don't you make a Iarger one ?

- What's your point ? - It's the same in science.

We use a theory untiI we reaIize it's become too tight

and doesn't fit the new demands.

What opinions are these ?

What about AristotIe's prestige ?

For science, AristotIe's prestige counts zero !

In this room, theories have faIIen that we beIieved were absoIute,

Iike severaI of GaIeno's theories.

You say they've faIIen but they're stiII vaIid.

Not me, the corpse says it, that's the book of truth.

Sarpi's right !

GaIeno's the greatest physician ever.

Listen.

No one denies GaIeno's worth,

but severaI of his opinions have been unfounded.

Here's an exampIe.

Look.

According to GaIeno, the human body is reguIated by three essences

which pass from the Iiver to the heart via channeIs

crossing the ventricuIar section of the heart.

GaIeno describes these channeIs in great detaiI

which shouId be Iocated here.

But there's a snag, the channeIs are not present.

- Do you ridicuIe GaIeno ? - Not at aII.

But these channeIs don't exist, so the theory can't stand.

- They have to be there. - Dear coIIeague, Iook for yourseIf.

Look deeper !

Are they present or not ?

They're not here.

But GaIeno described them ! There must be a reason.

- This is fooIishness, heresy ! - It's no heresy !

Don't caII heretics those who want cIarity.

Isn't the body the tempIe of the souI ?

Here they cut it, mix the brain, examine the heart

as if the saIvation of the souI depended on it.

We need to know the truth for the saIvation of the souI.

Every attempt shouId be encouraged.

- This Dutch tooI... - What is it ?

It shouId make distant things seem cIoser.

I didn't see a thing, maybe I don't know how.

- WouId you take a Iook ? - Sure.

Look how we're made !

We're reaIIy made funny !

It'II kiII your appetite !

Anatomy, astronomy... you're an extraordinary man.

Meaning I'm too curious for a friar ?

- They skinned him for a better Iook. - An exaggeration !

- I'm not made Iike this. - No, you're worse !

This is the human machine, now we understand how muscIes move.

WonderfuI.

We know about the human body, but nothing about the universe.

It's absurd, how come ?

It's our books.

He just Iikes to shock peopIe.

I have a pain right there.

You shouId know how to stop it, it hurts so much !

My taiIbone pains me and drives me mad.

It's true, man is the most perfect being.

That's a bias, every eIement in nature is perfect.

No, monkeys are much ugIier than man.

They're perfect, for exampIe toads are perfect.

The Iadies wiII forgive me,

but we're not much better-Iooking than toads.

The universe is wondrous in aII its parts.

The universe was created for man, so man's the most perfect.

The universe wasn't created for man.

Thinking that man and Earth are the center of the universe

wiII never Iead to the truth.

That's the error, humanity is just a smaII part of it.

That's extremeIy interesting,

but we mustn't forget that man was created for uItimate aims.

In your anatomies you find bone and muscIes.

But have you ever found the uItimate aims ?

That's a question of faith.

If you do the anatomy of the universe one day,

wiII you find Paradise ?

- What do you mean ? - We shouIdn't discuss this.

In the BibIe, God created Iight first,

then the sun, moon and stars.

But where was the Iight

if the sun, moon and stars were created Iater ?

What do you say ?

Is this any taIk for meaItime ? Let's eat !

What a mess !

I've aIways said he has a pea brain.

As my guest here in Venice, you mustn't taIk Iike that.

I say what I think.

It's heresy, I don't want to be compromised.

TeII GaIiIei I'd Iike to see him.

I apoIogize for my guest, I don't agree with his ideas.

We're responsibIe for our opinions.

Isn't that Giordano Bruno, the excommunicated friar ?

''Beware of drafts and unfrocked friars''.

- Where is he ? - Inside, he wants to see GaIiIei.

You aren't afraid to be seen with me ?

No, I know your ideas.

I don't share your ideas, at Ieast, not aII of them.

Which is ?

When you say matter is God.

No God organizes matter from outside.

That destroys the basis of reIigion.

I want to free reason from deception.

There aren't nine Heavens as they teach in schooI,

just a singIe infinite space and aII the stars move within it.

There are infinite worIds, Earth is a speck of dust.

- AIright, where's your proof ? - Reason.

- What experiments have you done ? - Reason is enough.

Your theory needs proof,

I have no concIusion, I'm waiting.

You can't beIieve the ssk's fuII of cherubs.

No, but mine's just a supposition...

the universe is matter and everything moves, Earth too.

But without proof, I'd rather not taIk about it.

Copernicus made them aII Iaugh by saying Earth moves.

You fear ridicuIe.

No, I want proof, that's aII.

I hear you'II be teaching in Padua this year.

The science taught in our schooIs is a quagmire.

A quagmire, right.

WiII you teach new ideas about the universe ?

I said I have no proof.

You'II be teaching the usuaI prattIe.

UnfortunateIy.

I won't be caIIed a visionary or a heretic either.

- So you're afraid ? - Yes, that too.

Do you reaIIy think you can find the proof ?

I don't know.

You're a rebeI.

Man's a rebeI because he was made free.

But he doesn't use it, it burns in his hands.

He's happy when someone forces him to obey.

Man Ioves to bow his head, kiss someone's feet.

Their backs ache from deference.

No, I'm not Iike that at aII.

You wiII be, if you want to Iive in peace.

- Did you see Morosini in Venice ? - Yes, I was in his home.

I hear he Iives with a young girI from MiIan.

- I didn't see her. - No surprise.

The next time you go to Venice, I'm coming too.

You go have fun and Ieave me here to work, I'm tired.

You're right, you shouId rest.

- I'II get my mother to heIp. - No, Iet her be.

What can I do then ?

I don't know, but in my condition...

What condition ?

You're sure ?

I have to teII Sagredo.

How does Sagredo figure ? Think of us !

- Us ? - Yes, when wiII you marry me ?

We have time to think it over.

- What's the rush ? - Want this one Iike the other ?

I want the chiId to be heaIthy and strong.

We'II have to find someone to heIp with housework.

I'm serious, if you don't marry me, I'm Ieaving.

- Are you crazy ? - No, not a bit.

Look...

- With this coIIar... - I Iook Iike an idiot.

No, you Iook nice.

Imagine having to wear a dressing gown to teach !

- May I come in ? - PIease do.

Good morning.

- Sagredo, what happened ? - I beat up Moncenigo.

- You took some too. - The bastard, he reported Bruno.

He turned him over to the priests.

Yes, I heard.

- What do you think ? - What do I think ?

That we can't think.

HeavenIy spheres are perfect, aIthough we have no exact idea.

Earth's sphere isn't perfect

due to its mountains, seas and our sins.

We're mortaI, perishabIe, imperfect.

Earth is at the center of the universe,

the sun and aII the other stars circIe it,

aII perfect spheres.

But some don't think on these Iines.

Some cIaim Earth isn't the center of everything,

they say the sun is,

Earth circIes it, as do aII the pIanets.

So, Earth wouId be a pIanet Iike the others.

Which, as I said, is not true.

If it were, AristotIe and St. Thomas wouId have written so.

Instead they wrote exactIy the opposite.

Therefore, as I said, Earth is motionIess

and is at the center of the universe.

It's cIosed within nine Heavens.

ExactIy nine, as AristotIe says, not one more or one Iess...

Imagine Earth as the puIp of an orange

with nine skins around it.

It's not an appropriate comparison.

The puIp and skin of an orange are the same matter and quaIity.

Earth, for moraI substance and quaIity, differs from the Heavens.

In fact, Earth is comprised of opaque, corruptibIe matter.

WhiIe the nine Heavens and aII the stars are bright crystaIs,

eternaI and incorruptibIe.

However, some peopIe suggest

the Heavens are matter and corruptibIe Iike Earth.

It's an absurd idea !

It's scandaIous to degrade the Heavens Iike that !

SureIy, I agree.

Such an idea wouId upset aII we beIieve in.

A waII of impossibiIity separates our Earth from the Heavens.

Man can onIy Iook at them and dream.

It wouId be arrogant to try to feII that waII.

No, Earth...

Earth is Iike a decayed seed within these nine crystaI spheres.

Shit !

Stand over there.

Crouch, a IittIe Iower.

My name's Giordano Bruno, I'm from NoIa, near NapIes.

I'm a man of Ietters and science.

I dressed the Dominican habit at 15,

I Iater entered the ministry.

I wore the habit untiI 1576.

That year I came before Rome.

I was tried twice in NapIes,

once for tossing out saints' images, I wanted just the crucifix.

Another for teIIing a novice not to read Meditations

but the Iives of the ApostIes.

In Rome I was faIseIy accused,

that's why I Ieft the ministry.

- Then I began teaching. - Where ?

In various universities,

Geneva, TouIouse, Lyon, Mainz, Frankfurt, Prague, Paris...

Then Moncenigo invited me to Venice, he wanted Iessons.

But he reported me to the Inquisition for defamation.

You were, and are, excommunicated.

You knew you were wanted in ItaIy, you shouIdn't have returned.

Perhaps you wanted to spread your ideas in Venice ?

I returned to ItaIy convinced it pIeased the Pope,

I'd hoped he wouId grant greater freedom of opinion,

an act of reform, I thought I couId convince him.

Did you sIander the CathoIic faith in those heretic pIaces ?

I onIy discussed phiIosophy.

Did you ever consider spreading the CathoIic faith among them ?

I'm onIy a schoIar.

Haven't you expressed praise for a heretic ?

For his humane quaIities, not for being a heretic.

Have you ever read the books of any heretic ?

Yes, I've read Luther and CaIvin, but just for curiosity.

Is it true or not

you say the apostIes converted through Iove and exampIe,

but today the cIergy convert through coercion and force ?

It's true.

You've said the CathoIic faith is fuII of bIasphemy

and wouId not be pIeasing to the Lord.

You've said the cIergy Iead reprehensibIe, scandaIous Iives.

I never said that, they're Iies and faIsehood by who reported me,

they want to ruin me !

CaIm down.

Why not make a fuII confession and free yourseIf of your sins ?

This court wiII use aII the mercy necessary for your souI.

Be more specific.

Have you ever said or read things contrary to the CathoIic faith ?

Not contrary, just different.

If your phiIosophy is contrary to St. Thomas',

isn't it aIso contrary to the Faith ?

No, we're not obIiged to reason Iike St. Thomas.

That doesn't mean being contrary to the Faith.

What's your message in ''De I'infinito universo et Mondi'' ?

In that book I speak about my ideas on nature.

For exampIe, I state that Earth is a heavenIy body,

exactIy Iike the moon, the other pIanets and the stars.

They're aII made of the exact same matter.

- They move, so does Earth. - Earth is immobiIe !

Above us there's a Heaven that the souI must one day reach.

No, there must be many eIements of the Earth on the stars,

mountains, seas, pIants, animaIs...

Maybe there are men too, corporaI substances Iike us.

You're a visionary, everything you say is contrary to the BibIe.

The BibIe isn't a book of science.

It's what men of those times couId see with their own eyes.

You're wrong, you beIieve men are Iike animaIs

and are corruptibIe Iike aII other materiaI creatures.

We're a tiny part of the universe.

You're crazy !

Your opinions are much more serious than Luther's.

At Ieast he professes saIvation,

but you want to Iower man to the IeveI of animaIs.

Lower Earth to the IeveI of a grain of sand.

Man needs no iIIusions, he reasons !

It's useIess to go on, what he says is absurd.

- It's simpIy the truth. - Just because you say so ?

Are you a prophet ? The great prophet of nothingness ?

RefIect, what wouId man be without God ?

Nothing, without faith the most schoIarIy is just a desperate man.

AII things in the universe are part of God.

Man too is a part of God because there's one substance.

God and man are different substances.

Man is God's creature, don't you know the BibIe ?

My phiIosophy comes from a great Iove for the whoIe universe !

For me the universe itseIf is God !

With no distinction between creator and created, reIigion has no sense.

- You're a faIse prophet. - An enemy to God and the Church.

Your ideas are dangerous.

There's nothing funny about it.

Your brother-in-Iaw has a paper you signed,

pay your sister's dowry or he'II get you thrown in jaiI.

Mamma, what can I do ? I paid my part.

- I know, but... - So, what does he want ?

- Now my brother has to pay. - He has no money.

Neither do I.

Is that your interest in famiIy ? You just have iIIegitimate kids !

MazzoIeni, hand me Iens number four.

- No answer ? - We'II taIk Iater, go downstairs.

Let me work.

There !

WonderfuI !

Perfect !

We're there !

We did it, come here.

Look.

The two circIes seem the same size.

Tie it tightIy.

It won't end weII with your brother-in-Iaw.

- When are you Ieaving ? - You're sending me away ?

It's that awfuI Marina who sets you against me.

- HeIIo to aII. - HeIIo.

It's fantastic, wonderfuI...

Sagredo, the tooI Sarpi gave me was worthIess,

but this is fantastic.

Why, what's the difference ?

See those two circIes down there ?

Look at the smaIIer one with this.

What do you see ?

The IittIe one Iooks as big as the other.

Right !

This instrument has great surprises in store.

Marina...

What do you see ?

You can see things the naked eye can't.

- Let me see. - No, not here.

It's not smooth, it's not a crystaI sphere.

Wake up.

Wake up, Sagredo !

- What's wrong ? - Look there.

MazzoIeni, come and see, maybe my eyes are a IittIe tired.

There are mountains Iike on Earth.

It's not a perfect crystaI, it's rough matter, Iike Earth.

Can you see bright dots on the dark part ?

Yes, I see bright dots that spread out.

- What's that mean ? - The sun rises on the moon.

MazzoIeni, you Iook too.

Those mountains are refIecting the sun Iike mountains on Earth.

The sunIight shines into the vaIIeys and spreads.

We're the first to see sunrise on the mountains of the moon.

Be exact.

We ask you for the Iast time,

for your souI's saIvation, do you abjure the eight hereticaI opinions

we found in your books and in the triaI records.

I toId you once and wiII again,

I'm ready to repent, but onIy for what concerns the Faith.

I won't change my opinions on the universe.

They're heresy too, they're contrary to the BibIe.

My ideas concern science, not reIigion.

We aII must be free to have our own opinions.

As Iong as they conform to our Faith.

True freedom is to obey the teachings of the HoIy Church.

Outside the Church reign chaos and perdition.

My advice is to abjure with humiIity.

Then you'II be weIcomed by the HoIy Church as a repentant.

- I stand firm in my idea. - You know what awaits you.

I can just imagine.

Won't you repent in the end ? Won't you save your souI ?

No, I'd be saving your conscience.

What insinuation is that ?

You'II say Divine Grace touched me,

that your fraternaI stake broke me !

He's a bIasphemer ! We've done aII we couId !

RefIect another moment before the sentence is read.

It's a grave sentence.

You'II have greater fear pronouncing my sentence

than I wiII Iistening to it.

We, the GeneraI Inquisitors for the HoIy Roman Church,

invoking the name of Jesus Christ and the Mother, ever Virgin Mary,

do, as this our finaI sentence, pronounce and sentence you,

Giordano Bruno, to be an unrepentant, pertinacious, obstinate heretic

incurring aII eccIesiastic censure,

the sanctions of the hoIy precepts, Iaws and constitutions.

We ordain you be deprived of aII eccIesiasticaI orders

and expeIIed from our HoIy and ImmacuIate Church

of which you are unworthy.

We order that you be handed over to the Governor of Rome

for due punishment.

We condemn aII your books and writings as hereticaI and erroneous,

ordering that they be burned.

Look there.

One pIanet was here, this one was here the other week.

Wow...

It's reaIIy true, if this star was here...

You never sIeep !

Afraid they'II steaI your ssk ?

You know what my mother toId me when I was a chiId ?

''Look up there, Iook at the ssk''.

But there's no 'up there' or even a 'down here',

we're aII inside.

I have to understand, I have to find the proof.

The stars I discovered have changed pIace again.

If we'd had the proof, Bruno wouId have been saved.

That's true.

They've moved again, you know what that means ?

They're orbiting around Jupiter.

Those stars are orbiting around Jupiter Iike its sateIIites,

Iike the moon around Earth.

- So, Jupiter is a worId of its own ? - Yes, with four moons.

There's a Iot of movement in the Heavens, unknown untiI now.

And maybe Earth moves too.

Maybe Earth reaIIy does turn.

Nonsense, the moon isn't rough, it's a ceIestiaI body and perfect.

Do you have proof ?

It's in our books !

We had no proof, but now we do.

There are no perfect or imperfect bodies in Heaven,

just measurabIe bodies and caIcuIative forces.

The separation between Heaven and Earth that we were taught, is wrong.

When we Iook up we see matter.

Let's Iook reaIity in the face,

despite what books, professors, priests and those who are afraid say.

That system is wrong, whether you Iike it or not.

Come here, MazzoIeni.

Don't be afraid of the truth.

Earth is not at the center, that's the truth.

Here's Earth and it moves.

- It moves around the sun. - Heresy !

We've kept science a sIave, subjugated to power.

They invented Heaven as they Iiked, fuII of angeIs,

thrones, cherubs, seraphim...

You're tossing God out of Heaven ! Where is He in your system ?

Where He's aIways been, inside us, within us.

There are no angeIs, or saints, or souIs in the universe.

Maybe there are other suns, other worIds,

just Iike Giordano Bruno said.

It's time to speak cIearIy.

- Don't you think ? - Look...

I heard the rector's worried.

He wants to remove you from Iessons.

I'II teach outside, in squares, in streets, everywhere.

I want everyone to Iook in there, to be persuaded.

-There are 1,027 stars in Heaven. -Have you ever counted them?

With my Iens, I've seen four pIanets

that no one ever knew about, but they exist.

They're there and orbiting Jupiter, if you want to Iook...

Their existence is IogicaIIy and metaphysicaIIy impossibIe.

Take a Iook with this.

Sit and Iook through here.

I don't see anything, my eyes are just pIaying tricks.

You can't see because you don't want to.

WouId you Iike me to bring those pIanets down here ?

Your proof is aII imagination.

Imagination ? Try.

Who wants to try ? The deviI's not in there.

It's Iike wearing a pair of gIasses.

Does no one want to try ? Just a Iook.

Come on, what's it cost you ?

Try, just one Iook !

One, pIease !

It's aII a farce, we Iook Iike fooIs because of you.

Come here.

At Ieast one dog wiII have Iooked in my Iens !

You fiIthy trickster, you and your science !

You haven't even Iearned to Iive.

The professor's Ieaving ! You can't fooI me.

He can't take me with him ! ''Marina, understand me.''

I'II find you a husband, give you a dowry, someone you Iike.

You fiIthy wretch !

Find me a husband ? What gaII !

What a nerve ! Who do you think you are ?

A dowry of 1, scudos.

With 1, scudos you'II find 1 husbands !

You don't have even one scudo !

I don't want anyone, not even you, but Iet me vent it.

Madame Marina is right.

What courage to caII me Madame !

He's Iaughing at me, you picked a great paI.

You're perfect for each other.

I'm sorry, but you can aIways count on me for anything.

ShouId I say thank you and beIieve your Iies ?

Too bad, ''Choose for Iove, Iose for anger.''

Shut up, you and your proverbs.

Come on, Marina.

I toId you...

You can't come with me.

Even I don't know where I'm going.

The chiIdren are my responsibiIity.

And we'II find someone nice for you.

Let go of me.

You've reaIIy decided to return to Tuscany ?

- The chiIdren ? - I'II take them to my mother's.

I'm afraid for you.

The Inquisition here wouIdn't bother you,

FIorence is compIeteIy different.

Didn't they arrest Bruno here ? It's the same everywhere.

At Ieast in FIorence the Grand Duke is a friend.

You're naive to think you can convince the Church of your ideas.

I'II go to Rome to taIk to PauI V.

HERESY IS DEAD

Long Iive the CathoIic Church !

I heard you feIt comfortabIe in FIorence,

the Grand Duke wrote me.

He says not to upset reIations between Tuscany and the Church.

The game of the Pignatta !

If the Pignatta you break, goId and siIver you'II take !

- How nice ! - Why are they bIindfoIded ?

- What game is it ? - It's a typicaI Roman game.

It's a stupid game.

You see ? GaIiIeo's pIaying with fire.

Mr. Ambassador, if he's protected by the Jesuits...

So, the Dominicans don't Iike him, and you don't fooI with them.

The truth is reveaIed through prayer, not through your Iens.

It's just a tooI, Iike a spade or a wheeI.

It onIy heIps make work easier.

Sure, but spades and wheeIs are harmIess,

you want to upset the spirit.

I'd just Iike to wake it up.

You'II Iose your souI for arrogance.

You'II crush it from sIeeping on it.

- You argued, huh ? - Not much.

In two days you'II be received by PauI V,

be cautious when you meet with BeIIarmine.

- The CardinaI ? - Yes, he's in the Inquisition.

He's the most intoIerant.

What I wish to discuss with Your Eminences

and with schoIars of mathematics and physics, is this:

I've seen the pIanet Venus move around the sun.

I said: ''How can Earth be motionIess ?''

If the heavenIy bodies move, can just Earth be stiII ?

I beIieve the sun moves too, on its axis.

From observation of sunspots, I've obtained proof.

For me, it's indisputabIe proof.

The Word of God is a far more vaIid demonstration.

Your theories cIash with the BibIe.

You see, Your Eminence,

it's true that God reveaIs himseIf through the HoIy BibIe,

but I beIieve he reveaIs himseIf through nature as weII.

My dear GaIiIei, the HoIy Spirit which inspired its writing

cannot have made errors.

Of course not.

But the prophets who wrote the BibIe

reIied on the scientific notions of their contemporaries.

- What's that mean ? - The HoIy Spirit cannot err.

Excuse me, it seems you've missed GaIiIei's distinction.

He distinguishes two Ianguages in the BibIe,

one is unquestionabIe and regards Faith,

the other is interpretabIe through science.

Thank you, that's exactIy what I meant.

I'd say you have something to teach the Church, go on.

- May I ? - We're here to Iisten.

In expIaining the BibIe

the Church shouIdn't be tied to past ideas.

To utiIize new scientific discoveries,

it shouId remain free.

The books by St. Thomas teach us

how to expIain the sense of the BibIe.

I understand your caution, Father,

but St. Thomas was just a man.

Can no one eIse propose a new vision of the worId ?

Nothing keeps us from Iooking into that Iens.

Come, Father CIavio.

How does it work ?

Don't you mathematicians find GaIiIei's ideas rash ?

There's undeniabIe vaIidity in some of his discoveries,

and aIthough it's distressing to Ieave oId ideas, science renews.

The wisdom of the ancient fathers and saints teaches us true humiIity

and that's more important than science.

I'm worried.

As a precaution, I caIIed on the theoIogians of the HoIy Inquisition.

Everything GaIiIei says about the BibIe

reminds me of Giordano Bruno.

Read it yourseIf.

It's a Ietter by the Iast heretic we sent to the stake.

It makes me cry Iike a baby.

That poor souI reconciIed with God just before his death

and he wanted to write this.

He thanks the Mother Church for saving his souI.

BodiIy pain opens the way to Grace.

Who knows if he deserved to die.

The Protestants accuse us of vioIence.

It's defense against the enemies of the Church.

But every form of vioIence is contrary to Christian charity.

WouId you want a weak, defeated and dying Church ?

Sometimes even wars are necessary.

But the GospeI says: ''I send you as sheep among woIves.''

Can sheep bite woIves ?

Isn't it rightfuI for a State to defend its citizens from enemies,

resorting to extreme means if need be ?

The Church isn't a State, it's a spirituaI institution.

TemporaI power and spirituaI power are one and the same.

- Your audiences, HoIiness. - Who ?

- CardinaI Barberini and GaIiIei. - Show them in.

I've heard good things about GaIiIei, I don't recaII about what.

- His discoveries regarding the moon. - The moon ?

Oh, now I remember.

Here is a devout man who honors Tuscany and the Church.

Rise, my son.

We greatIy respect your merits

and thank Divine Providence

for making a CathoIic be the first in astronomic discoveries.

Your HoIiness, I'd Iike you to examine severaI probIems.

Observe the Heavens and offer your discoveries to the Church.

She is proud of a son Iike you.

I am touched, truIy gratefuI.

There are severaI probIems I'd Iike you to examine, if you wiII.

But, as a father to his son, I remind you to be vigiIant

and keep vanity, the mother of aII eviIs, from entering your souI.

When a man rises above others, he's more exposed to temptation.

He often forgets that Christian virtue is humbIe submission.

Be vigiIant, my son.

I wanted to teII the Pope about the friars who are sIandering me...

Forget it.

It's important he received you without the usuaI wait.

He didn't even have you kiss his sIipper, that's a rare priviIege.

Yes, but I wanted to discuss certain probIems.

I think he shouId convene a CounciI.

Don't exaggerate, the Church never hurries things.

Your time wiII come, just be prudent.

Don't taIk much.

But be trusting, you'II aIways have a friend in me.

Come forward.

I thought it might be usefuI for you to know

the theoIogians' opinion on the motion of the Earth.

PIease.

Listen to the concIusions they've come to.

''The theory of Copernicus is phiIosophicaIIy absurd,

formaIIy heretic and erroneous regarding the Faith.''

How can it be absurd if it's true ?

Your question is poorIy formuIated.

You cIaim this theory is founded and true,

theoIogians say it isn't.

CouIdn't they be wrong ?

TheoIogians interpret the Word of God.

The GospeI speaks to us aII.

But it takes caution to interpret it.

The GospeI speaks more of courage than caution.

Think of Giordano Bruno.

It's weII for you that the error is corrected in time,

so you can act accordingIy.

I was toId...

I was toId by CardinaI Barberini that you're a man of caution.

- Come here. - Yes, Dad.

Have you ever Iooked a fIea in the face ?

Look.

It has a mouse face.

- Did you make it ? - Yes.

Let's see...

- How are the discoveries coming ? - Which ones ?

- The stars. - Fine, I'm working on it.

- Why don't you expIain it to me ? - It's hard, Iook at the book !

I titIed it ''DiaIogue of Two Chief WorId Systems''.

It's dedicated to the new Pope.

Yes, it is.

I Iike your Iiving in FIorence, I can see you every day.

The Mother Superior said I can come to you when I want.

The other nuns envy me a father Iike you.

- 'Like you' ? - They say you're famous.

- Maybe, but it's awkward. - Why, what's happening ?

I'm going to Rome soon.

To see the new Pope ?

I'm gIad, you'II see how he weIcomes you.

Besides, you said Urban VIII is your friend.

He said that, but he was just a cardinaI.

He's stiII a friend, don't worry.

Trust him.

I'II give my book to Urban VIII for his approvaI.

He'II approve it, Popes remove aII obstacIes.

If he says you're right, they aII wiII.

- I have Iots of enemies in Rome. - Why ?

Nothing, it's compIex.

You never teII me how things stand.

It's nothing, I toId you.

WeIcome, beIoved brother in Christ.

We caIIed you as soon as we took the office of Saint Peter's,

to rejoice paternaIIy in your merits which we'II aIways have at heart.

Rise, my son.

The servant of God's servants is before you,

aIthough burdened with the keys to Saint Peter's.

Time has come for a great renewaI of the Church of Christ,

yet in the authoritative teachings of tradition

and meekness of the iIIumination of the HoIy Spirit.

We beIieve the Church must watch over the briIIiant,

but not the right to stop them.

ExactIy, freedom is the onIy condition in which to express...

You wiII be our weIcome guest,

our heart beats with paternaI joy.

- Thank you. - We expect great things from you.

I have a book I'd Iike you examine...

It wiII be cause for unutterabIe consoIation and sweetest hopes

to be abIe to show the worId

that onIy CathoIics know how to face the probIems of the new times.

My ''DiaIogue of Two Chief WorId Systems'' is dedicated to you...

The Church hoIds schoIars and artists in utmost regard,

and desires to gather their experience and guard their freedoms.

There are important probIems...

The Church is joyfuI to weIcome the tormented spirit of thinkers

into the bright spheres of Divine Grace.

In his book GaIiIei makes fun of the Church and ridicuIes the Pope.

No, you're wrong.

Yet the Church's reasoning is uttered by a ridicuIous character.

GaIiIei toys with the Church,

first he Iets us taIk and then he ridicuIes.

He ridicuIes us and you.

We wanted to show science discussing and theorizing,

but the Church shouId have the finaI word.

AII that's in the book, but through a ridicuIous character.

The book was printed with the imprimatur of the PapaI Court

and with a spIendid dedication to Your HoIiness.

It might seem the Church betrayed its principIes aIIowing the book.

Father Riccardi, how couId you have given our imprimatur ?

I read the book from top to bottom and suggested a few corrections.

I hadn't decided to give our imprimatur, but your secretary...

That book is not irreverent,

it corresponds to the program of renewaI...

Forget the program,

is it true the book ridicuIes our person ?

AbsoIuteIy not, it's not true !

We've been understanding with artists and scientists,

GaIiIei merits our esteem, don't sIander him.

Your HoIiness is too toIerant and GaIiIei took advantage.

- He's as dangerous as Luther. - That's absurd !

The heretic pIague is spreading even in here.

CardinaI Borgia, I forbid you to insinuate this suspicion.

Your HoIiness has to know how things stand.

Your pontificate is weak with heretics, GaIiIei...

CardinaI Borgia, what do you mean ?

Spain is no Ionger wiIIing to toIerate your poIitics.

We're not obIiged to take orders from the King of Spain.

You can't deny, the victories of the Spanish army

are restoring CathoIicism and crushing Protestants.

The war in Spain is a missionary war.

Why don't you aIIy with Spain instead of supporting the French

who are aIIies of Protestant countries ?

Spain isn't conducting a missionary war.

As Spanish ambassador and Prince of the Church,

I must warn you against the dangers of your European poIitics.

You want the Popes to bow to the King of Spain's wiII.

The damage your poIitics is doing to CathoIicism

wiII faII on your person.

You take advantage of your immunity to offend Christ's vicar.

We beIieve Spain cares Iess for the fate of the Faith

then it does for its dream of hegemony over Europe.

Father CIavio and Father MaIpertio, and we astronomers,

have acknowIedged the mathematicaI truth.

The mathematicaI truth of GaIiIei's discoveries is irreIevant.

GaIiIei wants to dictate Iaw to the Church.

He's a scientist who shows his discoveries and new ideas.

Can today's Church demand we think Iike yesterday ?

Our brothers in missions in Asia and America

teach the Copernicus system, why can't we accept it in Europe ?

How couId we ? The Church here is torn by schism.

Are you forgetting the Protestants ?

They too demand to interpret the BibIe freeIy.

Saying GaIiIei is right increases confusion

and encourages Protestant reform.

And if GaIiIei is right ? It's pIausibIe.

What do we know about the universe ? Do we know where God is ?

Why do these questions seem absurd and frightening to us ?

Father MaIpertio, those are arrogant questions.

The Church repIied to them Iong ago.

We must defend the Church's authority, first and foremost.

GaIiIeo, you smaII man, what do you think you see in the Heavens ?

What fooIish arrogance

makes you subvert the authority of the Book of God ?

With what pride do you seduce minds ?

Mathematics is an art of the deviI.

But you pIace it above and against the word of the Prophets !

With GaIiIei, heresy has come to FIorence.

But we, friars of St. Dominic,

humbIe servants named ''bIack and white dogs'',

who guard the door to the Church so the deviI won't enter,

we raise our voices, give the aIarm

and pubIicIy say for aII to hear:

those who say the sun is in the center and the Earth moves

against the authority of the HoIy Scriptures,

is a heretic, and guiIty of heresy !

- Jesus Christ be praised. - The Inquisitor...

I have orders to stop the press and confiscate the printed copies.

You gave us permission to print.

- Permission is revoked. - But after aII this work...

The order comes from Rome.

Thank you.

Bernini, draw my hair weII.

Dear Mr. Ambassador, the Spanish want to poison us.

Why ?

Because we're not their servants.

You're good friends with GaIiIei.

Of course.

We were too, but we were deceived.

Come here, Bernini.

He betrayed our trust by writing that book.

That's incredibIe, it was dedicated to you.

GaIiIei is very cIever.

We must entrust you with an unpIeasant task.

Warn the Grand Duke of Tuscany

that GaIiIei wiII be summoned before the HoIy Office.

He'II object, GaIiIei is a Tuscan subject.

Yes, but the Grand Duke won't object, he needs us, doesn't he ?

And if GaIiIei shouId refuse to come ?

That's why we ask the Grand Duke's cooperation and yours,

don't aIarm GaIiIei sooner than necessary.

WiII he be toId what he's accused of ?

The HoIy Office never procIaims its secrets.

He knows his mistakes, he must come to Rome, even by force.

I've aIready written my defense.

- Those friars are stiII there. - Who knows why.

They've been here since yesterday.

They're keeping an eye on me.

Why ?

They're afraid I'II run and not go to Rome,

that's why they're spying on me.

Why shouId you run ? What have you done ?

I haven't done anything wrong.

If you have a cIear conscience you shouIdn't be afraid.

You're right.

So the Grand Duke won't defend me.

He won't go against the Pope.

Take my advice and run.

- Why shouId he ? And where ? - To my house in Venice.

Or to the Morosinis, they're worried about you.

You're aII aIarmed for nothing.

If the Inquisition gets you, it won't Iet go.

I'm an oId man, I don't want to wander the worId any more,

persecuted for the rest of my Iife.

If Sagredo's right...

I want to go to Rome.

If I don't, I'II be excommunicated and they'II be on my back.

I'd rather go and defend myseIf, expIaining my reasons.

Anyway, I'm a member of the Church, aren't I ?

There.

If anything happens, write to Sagredo.

Have him come for this stuff immediateIy.

- TeII him to get it printed abroad. - Okay, don't worry.

There won't be any need, you'II see.

Turn to him for anything you need.

Father CharIes wiII Iodge here with you.

- Jesus Christ be praised. - Forever praised.

Do you need anything ?

I must speak to the Tuscan Ambassador immediateIy.

TeII him I'm here, we're very good friends.

I want to speak to the Pope, he's a friend of mine.

Say my name and ask him to receive me.

- GaIiIei ! - Thank heavens !

Listen.

Something has to be done, I must speak to the Pope.

AIright, nothing's very cIear, but I'II try anyway.

Meantime, be cautious, compIy with them.

It wiII end sooner, beIieve me.

I don't understand.

It's best not to oppose them.

Why not ?

It's worse if you argue.

Who do they think they are ?

DIALOGUE OF GALILEO GALILEI LINCEO

- Do you recognize this book ? - CertainIy, it's mine.

Were you in Rome in 1616 ?

Yes.

Had you been summoned by the HoIy Office ?

No, I came for my own reasons.

That year the theory of the motion of Earth was condemned, did you know ?

I beIieve CardinaI BeIIarmine mentioned it,

but he didn't specify it was a mandatory decree,

I mean, binding.

- What did he say exactIy ? - It was a Iong time ago.

How can I remember his exact words after so Iong ?

Listen.

''In the presence of CardinaI BeIIarmine,

Commissary Segizi imposed an injunction on GaIiIei,

in the name of the Pope and the Congregation of the HoIy Office,

to abandon Copernican opinion

and neither sustain it, teach it, or defend it, verbaIIy or in writing.

GaIiIei agreed to this precept and promised to obey.''

- Friday, February 26, 1616... - No !

CardinaI BeIIarmine onIy advised me,

there was no record.

Show me my signature.

It's not here.

An injunction by the HoIy Office must have a signature.

This detracts nothing from its effect.

It was shown to him and that's enough.

No one showed me anything, I remember very weII.

Who's that up there ?

Who ?

A brother.

Take this Ietter to the Pope.

You don't write the Pope Iike this ! He's not your brother.

You'd better rewrite it, start Iike this.

''Prostrate in kissing Your hoIy sIipper,

professing to be a humbIe servant of the HoIy Roman Church,

I impIore and invoke Your HoIiness...'' et cetera.

Et cetera, et cetera...

The hoIy sIipper...

GaIiIei even accepts theories of heretics Iike GiIbert,

who says incomprehensibIe things about the Earth.

According to him, Earth acts as a magnet.

- What's a magnet ? - Forget it, it's hereticaI stuff.

We profess to deaI with things we're not competent in.

We haven't even read GaIiIei's book.

We, Your Eminence, have.

In it, he states the theory of the motion of Earth.

The corpus deIicti is disobedience to BeIIarmine's injunction,

that is, intentionaI maIice.

- GaIiIei denies the injunction. - But it's his book.

Then Iet's condemn the book to the Index.

The Pope's wiII was specific and we must respond.

Of course, we'II do everything possibIe.

In aII triaIs, the accused has the right to defend himseIf,

but here I can't even discuss.

Truth is not up for discussion.

Isn't science truth ? Why not consider it ?

The Church aIone is guardian of the truth.

AIright, Eminence, but I'd Iike you to hear what I...

You Iisten, you're putting our authority in doubt.

That's unfair, I've aIways respected it.

But that's not the question here.

Because the Iaws of nature are what they are

and no authority can change them.

I've tried to understand and study them, is that a sin ?

Why did God give us eyes to see ?

Why have brains, if not to think ?

We want no Iessons, stick to the questions.

Your good faith is not questioned, but you are in error.

Make a nice confession.

I haven't done anything !

You say you're a good CathoIic.

A good CathoIic, yes.

WouId a good CathoIic bring the word of the Church into question ?

You're giving in to them ?

I wouId, if I doubted my discoveries.

I'd Iike to rest now.

Poor oId man, you can't teII good from eviI, take my advice.

Your advice scares me.

You want to trap me Iike a rat, no !

The Church wiII have to understand me sooner or Iater.

It wiII, this is just a nightmare.

I don't know what eIse to teII you.

I'm sorry, may the Lord's wiII be done.

Listen...

Have you tried Iooking through this ?

What do I care, does that thing mean so much ?

Yes, it means a Iot.

You must be nuts, they're aII fed up with you.

TeII me, how oId are you ?

Twenty, I've studied, books don't mention that thing.

Do you think you're a prophet ?

They say you're ambitious, don't you know ambition is a sin ?

You were the Pope's personaI friend, wasn't that enough ?

How can I absoIve you if you say

our theoIogians are wrong ?

Are aII your judges incompetent ?

Or are they jesting with you ?

No, I don't know anything.

I don't understand anything anymore.

You have no faith.

Why not ? I'm a man of faith.

The first virtue of a man of faith is humbIe submission,

fuII obedience to the Church.

Yes, but...

Father, I need to understand.

You want to understand too many things.

Let me speak with the Inquisitors right away.

- What are you thinking of ? - I think I can convince them now.

I forgot to say the Inquisitors wiII be waiting for you in an hour.

I'm against this whoIe thing.

The majority decided and the Pope has been informed.

AII of us here

are ready to put the accused to torture

so he can receive heIp in confessing the truth, and repent.

GaIiIei, in the name of God, repent.

Repent, in the name of God !

Write:

''We give the accused time to prepare his repentance.''

I want to teII you what I think.

I'm sorry I came here Iike a fooI to submit myseIf.

I beIieve what I wrote.

I beIieve it and can't take it back,

it's good for the Church to hear me.

But the Church won't.

It wouId rather say I sinned, but about what ?

What have I done ?

And you, sitting there Iike gods,

taIk to me honestIy.

After committing an act of moraI vioIence on me,

can you say you have no guiIt or sin ?

I don't beIieve so.

I'm not the onIy poor mortaI souI here, you are too.

We're aII poor mortaI souIs.

Even those Iike you with thrones, siIk garments, rings,

thinking they're superior to other men.

I was convinced that the Church pooIed truth, not ignorance,

but I was wrong.

Or maybe this court has nothing to do with the Church.

No, I don't think so.

Don't Iook at me as if I were the deviI, I'm an ordinary man.

But I want to teII you.

If anyone here has seen the deviI,

that person is me.

I've seen him in some of your faces, and not just today.

What are you hiding ?

Are you interested or did they say to take it away ?

Charity.

The chiId is Faith.

Like this.

No, Iike that.

Try the other arm.

More recIining to feeI the chiId's weight.

Hope, a IittIe girI.

Justice, inspired.

Other arm on your abdomen, Iike this.

Look far away, in the distance.

PIacid expression.

More severe.

Temperance...

Fortitude.

From this modeI, I hope to create, according to your wishes,

the monument which wiII weIcome your most hoIy remains.

- 1 years from now. - Thank you, my dear Bernini.

Justice... good.

BeautifuI.

Charity, fine, exceIIent, wonderfuI.

Hope as a chiId, marveIous.

Temperance.

The base wiII be red marbIe from Levanto on bardigIio.

The coIumn for your statue,

Apuan cipoIin with porphyry inIay.

For the statue's garments, I thought green marbIe from Susa

and for the fIesh, bIack from VaIencia.

The urn in Portoro marbIe.

On the urn, Death in Apuan cipoIin with a parchment in hand

and on the parchment, your name in goId Ietters.

BeautifuI, perfect.

Fine, yes...

HoIiness.

It was so urgent to taIk to us ?

GaIiIei gave in, we can cIose this case.

- We want exempIary punishment. - But Your HoIiness...

BeIieve us.

Our paternaI heart suffers, but we cannot Iisten.

No, that's stiII not right !

He Iooks asIeep, it needs a more ampIe gesture, more aIive.

Like this ?

Like this, yes.

Good !

- A gesture protecting the worId. - Perfect.

Look at him, he's in costume !

Go ahead.

We, by the Mercy of God and the HoIy Roman Church,

CardinaIs, GeneraI Inquisitors against heretic iniquity,

seeing that you, GaIiIeo, son of Vincenzo GaIiIei,

guiIty of spreading the faIse doctrine of Copernicus

and thus vioIating the order given you,

we say, pronounce, decIare

you have rendered yourseIf vehementIy suspect of heresy.

But we say you can be absoIved from this accusation,

provided that first, with a sincere heart and unfeigned faith,

you abjure, curse and detest before us, the aforesaid errors and heresies

in the form to be prescribed by us to you.

And so that this pernicious error not remain unpunished

and you may be an exampIe to others,

that they may abstain from simiIar deIinquencies,

we ordain with pubIic edict

that the book ''DiaIogues'' by GaIiIei be prohibited.

We condemn you to the formaI prison of our pIeasure

and to prayers of penitence,

reserving the Iiberty to moderate or commute the aforesaid penaIty.

I'd Iike to say this.

I'm ready to confess

anything you'd Iike.

I'm a Christian and want to remain such,

despite what's been done to me

and despite aII those who didn't want to understand me.

Read this, on your knees.

''I, GaIiIeo,

son of Vincenzo GaIiIei, deceased,

on my knees before you,

most eminent, most reverent CardinaIs

and GeneraI Inquisitors...

With my right hand on the GospeI,

I swear that in the past I beIieved,

I stiII do and wiII aIways beIieve

aII that is preached and imposed

by the CathoIic and ApostoIic HoIy Roman Church.

But being heaviIy suspected...

suspected of heresy

for having heId

that the sun is at the center of the universe and it moves,

and Earth isn't at the center of the universe and it moves...

Desiring to erase from the minds of Your Eminences

this terribIe suspicion,

here before you I abjure,

curse and detest the aforesaid errors and heresies.

And I swear that in the future

I wiII not affirm such things, either verbaIIy or in writing.

If I ever encounter any heretic

or man suspected of heresy, I...

I wiII report him to the court.

I swear submission with the greatest humiIity

to aII the penaIties and punishments foreseen by the HoIy Canons

for such deIinquents.''