"An auto-da-fé was the ritual of public penance carried out of condemned heretics and apostates imposed by the Spanish, Portuguese, or Mexican Inquisition as punishment and enforced by civil authorities. Its most extreme form was death by burning."
"Ferdinand II and Isabella I received permission from Pope Sixtus IV to name inquisitors throughout their domains. Autos-da-fé became quite popular throughout the Spanish realm, competing with bullfights for the public's attention and attended by royalty."
"Once granted permission from the Pope to conduct inquisitions, the monarchs began establishing permanent trials and developing bureaucracies to carry out investigations in most of the cities and communities in their empire."
"Later, Franciscan missionaries brought the Inquisition to the New World."
"Juan Antonio Llorente, the ex-secretary of the Holy Office, gave the following numbers for the Inquisition excluding the American colonies, Sicily and Sardinia: 31,912 burnt, 17,696 burned in effigy, and 291,450 reconciled de vehementi (i.e., following an act of penance)."
"Anyone who was guilty or knew of someone who was guilty was urged to confess. If the accused were charged, they were presumed guilty. Officials could apply torture during the trial. Proceedings were to be kept secret, and the identity of witnesses was not known to the accused."
"The auto-da-fé was not an impromptu event, but thoroughly orchestrated. The ritual took place in public squares or esplanades and lasted several hours with ecclesiastical and civil authorities in attendance."
"The ceremony of public penitence then began with a procession of prisoners, whose identities were kept secret until the very last moment. In addition, the prisoners usually had no idea what the outcome of their trial had been or their sentencing."
"The prisoners were taken outside the city walls to a place called the quemadero or burning place. There the sentences were read. Artistic representations of the auto-da-fé usually depict physical punishment such as whipping, torture, and burning at the stake."
"The auto-da-fé was also a form of penitence for the public viewers, because they too were engaging in a process of reconciliation and by being involved were given the chance to confront their sins and be forgiven by the Church."
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