Inquisition

An organisation within the Roman Catholic Church instituted by Pope Gregory IX in 1231, which was responsible for the elimination of heretics.

The Inquisition was the final court of appeal for those charged with heresy. Those who could be proven to be heretics were turned over to the civil authority for execution.

In 1542 Pope Paul III established the 'Sacred Congregation of the Universal Inquisition', which had the tasks of maintaining and defending the integrity of the faith and of examining and proscribing errors and false doctrines. In 1908 the name of the Congregation became "The Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office", which in 1965 further changed to "Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith", as retained to the present day. It was headed by Cardinal Josef Ratzinger until his election as pope in 2005.