Scenes XI - XII Summary

Scene XI: Barberini, now the Pope, is preparing to make a public appearance, and as the scene proceeds, Barberini gradually assumes the vestments of the Pope. Barberini is resisting the Inquisitor in regards to Galileo's fate. Barberini (indicated before as a former mathematician) refuses to "set myself up against the multiplication table" by punishing Galileo. The Inquisitor reminds Barberini of the enormous burden he has and the vast amounts of people who are looking to him to guide them. Barberini seems to buckle under the tremendous pressure, but in the end he will not issue a "condemnation of physical facts" and neither will Barberini condemn Galileo to torture or death. He allows Galileo to undergo an inquisition, but with no torture, only the threat of torture. The Inquisitor agrees and leaves to arrange Galileo's inquisition.

Scene XII...