Fraticelli

With Fraticelli (it.: Fraticelli = Little Brothers or " little brother "), one called Franciscans, who in 13-14. Century had deposed as " spiritually minded " ( Spirituals ) by the Franciscan main branch and its own sub-groups were formed. The movement was considered by the Roman Catholic Church as heresy and its members persecuted by the Inquisition.

Basics of criticism of the Pope

The Spirituals and Fraticelli exerted strong criticism of the " carnal " clerics Church under Pope John XXII. (1316 - 1334), who clung to the nepotism like his predecessors and a disastrous financial policies for operation. In the political struggle against the Pope Ludwig the Bavarian found support among the Franciscans Michael of Cesena and William of Ockham. The Fraticelli also intervened in the dispute inflamed poverty.

Inquisition and Excommunication

John XXII. fueled the suspicion that the Fraticelli were a heretical sect and had found refuge with the Beguines and Begarden. With his papal bull Cum inter nonnullos from November 12, 1323, he reached drastically in the poverty dispute between the Franciscans. In addition, the Fraticelli was accused in central Italy, and in Florence to inflame opposition to the urban Podestà. Michael of Cesena and William of Ockham finally found a shelter in Bavaria, where they distanced themselves clearly from the German Beguine, the papacy Avignonesische but still called " Babylon of the end times ."

Literary reference

The theme of the Spirituals - motion is described in Umberto Eco's novel "The Name of the Rose" in detail.