Copernicus and heliocentrism: Did the Church oppose science?

On May 24, 1543, the Polish priest, astronomer and mathematician Nicholas Copernicus, famous for formulating the heliocentric theory of the solar system, died. Over the centuries, the hoax that the Catholic Church is opposed to science has been repeated incessantly, a myth that revolves especially around the case of Copernicus.

The journalist Angelo Stagnaro deconstructs this in an article for the National Catholic Register.

Heliocentrism is the astronomical model, proposed by Copernicus, according to which the Earth and all the planets revolve around the Sun. The heliocentric theory, published the same year as the death of the Polish astronomer, is opposed to the geocentric theory, which places Earth as the center of the universe.

“Some want us to believe that Father Nicholas Copernicus was afraid to publish his heliocentric model because of the Catholic Church. This is completely false,” says Stagnaro.

According to the author, Pope Clement VII himself—along with two cardinals and several high-ranking bishops—recommended Copernicus to publish his research.

The Polish priest and mathematician agreed and published a summary, where he explained his theory in the form of seven axioms. “This was in 1531, 12 years before his death. From that moment on, acceptance of the heliocentric system began to spread throughout Christendom,” says the author. Furthermore, he specifies that the complete model – which included his mathematical calculations – would not be published except posthumously.

In 1533, continues Stagnaro—who is a professed member of the Secular Franciscans (Third Order Franciscans)—Copernicus’s uncle, and secretary to the Pope, gave a lecture on the heliocentric theory that so surprised Clement VII that he gave the speaker a valuable gift.

In 1536, Cardinal Niccolò Schomberg, Archbishop of Capua, sent a letter to the astronomer urging him to publish his findings and to send him a copy “as soon as possible.” It was not until 1540 that the 68-year-old Copernicus told Pope Paul III that he would finally send his research to Cardinal Schomberg.

Copernicus was unable to spend much time on the edited version of his manuscript, because he had been paralyzed in his right arm and had memory problems several days before his death.

In fact, he would receive the first printed copy of his theory just hours before he died. As a good Catholic, he dedicated his book to the Pope, who received him cordially in 1543.

At the height of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther and John Calvin opposed Copernicus’ model, considering it contrary to Scripture. Thus, says Stagnaro, “the Catholic Church never persecuted Copernicus for his theories.”

“In any case, Copernicus hesitated to publish his research for fear of exacerbating Protestant hatred against the Catholic Church,” says the author. “Remember: the heliocentric theory was proposed by a Catholic priest, who was encouraged by the Catholic Church and confused by Protestants (well-intentioned or not),” he stated.

The “Galileo Case” and its relationship with Copernicus

Stagnaro points out that, while it is true that Galileo Galilei was accused in 1610 of spreading “Copernican ideas,” this should not be interpreted as Copernicus disagreeing with the Church.

“It was not heliocentrism that bothered the Church, but rather Galileo’s refusal to admit that his ideas were theories and not facts not subject to question or criticism,” explains the author.

In fact, Pope Urban VIII was a great admirer of Galileo. In 1624 he received him six times in Rome with great cordiality. Just the point of heliocentrism It created some friction between the two men..

Although Urban VIII did not consider it heretical—it was never declared as such—he considered it a doctrinally reckless position and, furthermore, he was convinced that it could never be proven.

The Pope said that the same observable effects that are explained with that theory could be due to other different causes, otherwise the omnipotence of God would be limited. It was an argument that, apparently, had a lot of force, and it seemed that whoever claimed to have demonstrated Copernicanism was putting limits on the infinite power of God.

“If people want to make Galileo a model of modern science, they will first have to explain why Copernicus was never persecuted for the same theories almost 75 years earlier,” Stagnaro said.