Paolo Sarpi

Paolo Sarpi OSM (* August 14 1552 in Venice, † January 15, 1623 ) was an Italian friar and historian.

He belonged to the Order of Servites, was a member of the Quorum of Padua, came in his 26 years as Provincial of his Order in Rome and later became Attorney General. He incurred the hatred of the Pope, as one secret contacts with Protestants accused him to the Inquisition. So he maintained contact with Giovanni Diodati, who sent him hundreds of copies of his Bible translations from Geneva.

In the dispute with Pope Paul V, the Republic of Venice made ​​him a theological consultant. He defended the freedom of secular governments against the Papal power so decisively and boldly, that he was placed by the Pope in the spell. Several attacks on his life led him to retire to a monastery in Venice; there he remained until his death.

As a critic of papal power and the Jesuits he came in a close proximity to Protestantism. He had a full scholarship. His main work is the Istoria del concilio Tridentino who wants to prove that the reunion of the Protestants had been with the Catholic Church at the Council of Trent prevented only by the intrigues of the Curia. (This text was translated into French by Giovanni Diodati. )

Historically valuable are also his letters. It is known correspondence with Francesco Castrino, who was at the French royal court.