Study & Research Middle Ages

Pope Gregory X

Three-quarters of a century before the cremation of the Jews at Strasbourg, Pope Gregory X (1271–1276) forwarded a papal encyclical (letter) to all Christians of Europe. Gregory's letter was consistent with his predecessors' policy toward the Jews—they were to be protected from persecution and massacre. Papal policy toward Jews was the result of both religious sentiment and a self-serving good sense. The papacy as an institution based its protection of the Jews on the theological principle that the survival of Judaism was a vital part of God's plan for human salvation; Jews, after all, were the biblical forerunners of Christians. From a practical point of view, Jews played a vital role in many papal enterprises. Since Canon Law (church law) forbade Christians from practicing usury (that is, collecting interest for lending money), popes had to look elsewhere for funds to finance ventures such as the Crusades and the building of...
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