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| "A depiction of the mandatory conversion sermons imposed on the Jewish community in the Papal States, where Jews were forced to listen to inflammatory speeches. (Image generated by Gemini's AI)" |
For centuries, Church leaders attempted to force Jews to convert. One of their methods was mandatory attendance at conversion sermons. In 1577, Pope Gregory XIII ordered the Jews of Rome and other parts of the Papal States to send a certain quota of their people on specific occasions to a designated church to listen to a sermon that might open their eyes to the true faith. The conversion sermon became a regular abuse of Jewish life in the Papal States.
It was in Rome itself where the abuses were most extreme. Here, 100 Jewish men and 50 Jewish women had to attend the designated church each week to listen to these speeches, which were usually given by an apostate from Judaism whose fees were paid by the Jewish community. Supervisors armed with sticks made sure they paid attention, and would examine their ears to ensure they were not plugged.
The sermons were always abusive and highly inflammatory. Mobs were inspired by the speeches. In Ferrara, a special entrance was made from the ghetto to the Church of San Crispino, where the sermons were delivered, so that the Jews would not be harmed as they passed through the street.
In 1630, Emperor Ferdinand II instituted conversionist sermons in Vienna, in the university auditorium. Two hundred Jews, including at least 40 teenagers, were required to attend each sermon. In Prague, the Jesuits initiated conversionist sermons that same year. Although there was some relaxation of the system in the 18th century elsewhere, the institution of the conversionist sermon continued in the Papal States, in both Italy and France, until the period of the French Revolution. In Italy, it was renewed after the fall of Napoleon and the restoration of papal government, only to be abolished by Pope Pius IX in 1846 during the liberal period at the beginning of his pontificate.
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| "A scene illustrating the humiliating Carnival foot races in Rome, where Jewish men were forced to run in loincloths while crowds jeered and threw objects at them. (Image generated by Gemini's AI)" |
Another abuse by the Church took place in Rome during Carnival, a Christian celebration just before Lent. Beginning in 1466, the Church created a new Carnival entertainment. It took place on the opening Monday of Carnival. Eight Jewish men, dressed only in loincloths, were forced to run the first 400-yard foot race while the booing crowd threw sticks, stones, and garbage at them. At times, this was fatal. After the initial race, the rabbis and leading Jewish figures had to walk the entire route to be subjected to the insults and mockery of the crowd. At the end of the route was a statue of a pig. The rabbis and dignitaries had to kiss the pig.
The races were abolished on February 14, 1667, and replaced with a fine of 300 scudi. The rabbis and community leaders still had to walk the route and pay the fine. The "Homage Ceremony" continued until 1846.
Fuente: https://web.archive.org/web/20001012133125/http://www.jewishgates.org/history/jewhis/conser.stm
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