Intra Arcana Explained

Intra Arcana is a papal bull of Clement VII promulgated on May 8, 1529. This document was addressed specifically to the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire and the Spanish Empire, Charles V. In keeping with the power previously given by the papacy to his predecessor, Ferdinand II, the bull conceded to Charles V the power of patronage in the newly discovered lands in the Americas; this confirmed the ecclesiastical and territorial rights of Spain, including the jurisdiction to decide ecclesiastical lawsuits and the ability to name officials to canonries, prebends, and parsonships.^{[1] [2]}

Content

Intra Arcana was intended to be a grant of permissions and privileges to Emperor Charles V and the Spanish Empire, which included patronage power over their lands in the Americas. Accordingly, there are mentions in the bull of bringing these peoples to the knowledge of the Christian God, as well as permission to govern the new territory with the use of arms, if necessary:^[3]

This portion of the text appears to put Clement VII at odds with other leading Catholic thinkers of the age, who emphasized protection of the Indians, especially Pope Paul III.^[4] This has led to criticism that Clement VII and the Catholic Church supported a militaristic means of conversion.^{[5] [6]} However, by confirming the emperor's power to compel the Indians with edicts, admonitions, forces, and arms, Intra Arcana supported the emperor's political rights as well as his rights of conquest and colonization.^[7] Intra Arcana indicates that the emperor's compulsory powers were to be used to bring about the salvation of souls.^[8] This does not imply that conversions were to be forced, which was forbidden by Canon Law.^[9] In addition, Clement VII also granted Charles V the authority to recruit priests and other religious to the Spanish colonies.^[7] If these priests and religious decided to accept the nominations given by Charles V to these roles in the Americas, the Pope would then absolve any excommunication, suspension, interdict, or other ecclesiastical censure incurred by said priest or religious.^[10]

See also

• List of papal bulls
• Catholic Church and the Age of Discovery

External links

• Latin Text of Intra Arcana(begins at p. 76)
• English translation of Intra Arcana

Notes and References

1. Pope Paul III and the American Indians. 1508245. The Harvard Theological Review. 1937-04-01. 76–78. 30. 2. Lewis. Hanke. 10.1017/s0017816000022161. 162725228 .
2. Book: Formas de hispanidad. Universidad del Rosario. 2010-01-01. 9789587381207. 242. es. Enver Joel. Torregroza. Pauline. Ochoa.
3. Pope Paul III and the American Indians . 1508245 . The Harvard Theological Review . 1937-04-01 . 77 . 30 . 2 . Lewis . Hanke. 10.1017/S0017816000022161 . 162725228 .
4. Pope Paul III and the American Indians . 1508245 . The Harvard Theological Review . 1937-04-01 . 68–77 . 30 . 2 . Lewis . Hanke . 10.1017/s0017816000022161. 162725228 .
5. W. Marder (Ed. P. Tice) - Indians in the Americas Book Tree 2005, 237 pages, [Retrieved 2015-07-13]
6. Book: Washburn, Wilcomb E. . Red Man's Land/white Man's Law: The Past and Present Status of the American Indian . University of Oklahoma Press . 1995-01-01 . 978-0-8061-2740-8 .
7. Book: Formas de hispanidad . Universidad del Rosario . 2010-01-01 . 978-958-738-120-7 . 242 . es . Enver Joel . Torregroza . Pauline . Ochoa.
8. Pope Paul III and the American Indians . 1508245 . The Harvard Theological Review . 1937-04-01 . 77–79 . 30 . 2 . Lewis . Hanke . 10.1017/s0017816000022161. 162725228 .
9. Book: Carpenter . Dwayne . Alfonso X and the Jews: An Edition of and Commentary on Siete Partidas 7.24 "De Los Judíos", Volume 115 . Jan 1, 1986 . University of California Press . Oakland, CA . 978-0-520-09951-7 . 80 . 25 October 2015.
10. Book: Smet, Georgius de . Privilegia nominationvm Lovaniensivm ... . ex typographiâ viduæ Joannis Kerchovij . 1665-01-01 . la .