''Intra Arcana'' is a

papal bull A papal bull is a type of public decree, letters patent, or charter issued by the pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the leaden Seal (emblem), seal (''bulla (seal), bulla'') traditionally appended to authenticate it. History Papal ...

of Clement VII promulgated on May 8, 1529. This document was addressed specifically to the ruler of the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire, also known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation after 1512, was a polity in Central and Western Europe, usually headed by the Holy Roman Emperor. It developed in the Early Middle Ages, and lasted for a millennium ...

and the

Spanish Empire The Spanish Empire, sometimes referred to as the Hispanic Monarchy (political entity), Hispanic Monarchy or the Catholic Monarchy, was a colonial empire that existed between 1492 and 1976. In conjunction with the Portuguese Empire, it ushered ...

Charles V Charles V may refer to: Kings and Emperors * Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500–1558) * Charles V of Naples (1661–1700), better known as Charles II of Spain * Charles V of France (1338–1380), called the Wise Others * Charles V, Duke ...

. 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 Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, art patronage refers to the support that princes, popes, and other wealthy and influential people ...

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.

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''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 The Americas, sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North America and South America.''Webster's New World College Dictionary'', 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. When viewed as a sing ...

. 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: 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 Pope Paul III (; ; born Alessandro Farnese; 29 February 1468 – 10 November 1549) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 October 1534 to his death, in November 1549. He came to the papal throne in an era follo ...

. This has led to criticism that Clement VII and the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

supported a militaristic means of conversion. 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. Intra Arcana indicates that the emperor's compulsory powers were to be used to bring about the salvation of souls. This does not imply that conversions were to be forced, which was forbidden by

Canon Law Canon law (from , , a 'straight measuring rod, ruler') is a set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical jurisdiction, ecclesiastical authority (church leadership) for the government of a Christian organization or church and its membe ...

. In addition, Clement VII also granted Charles V the authority to recruit priests and other religious to the Spanish colonies. 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.

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External links

Latin Text of Intra Arcana
begins at p. 76)
English translation of Intra Arcana
16th-century papal bulls 1529 in Christianity Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor

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