This week in Christian history: Saint Nicholas dies, anti-witchcraft edict and papal bull

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, December 05, 2021

Pope issues anti-witchcraft edict – Dec. 5, 1484

Two women dressed up as witches take pictures in front of the bonfire during the traditional San Juan's (Saint John) night on June 24, 2015. | REUTERS

This week marks the anniversary of when Pope Innocent VIII issued a papal bull, or decree, known as the Summis desiderantes, which was aimed at targeting witchcraft in Central Europe.

The papal bull commissioned two Dominican friars, Jacob Sprenger and Heinrich Kramer, to weed out the witchcraft problem, and also called on all Christians to assist them when possible.

The decree stated that they “may exercise against all persons, of whatsoever condition and rank, the said office of inquisition, correcting, imprisoning, punishing and chastising . . . those persons whom they shall find guilty as aforesaid.”

“And they shall also have full and entire liberty to propound and preach to the faithful word of God, as often as it shall seem to them fitting and proper, in each and all of the parish churches in the said provinces,” added the papal bull.

Although it was not the first such papal decree against witchcraft, the Summis became noteworthy for the fact that it was widely distributed by the then newly invented printing press.