Pope Urban's support of Galileo existed more on a personal
one than a public one. The Pope was not directly behind Galileo's heresy trial however
he did not make any move to override the decision made by the Holy Office of the
Inquisition. Pope Paul, who approved the Edict of 1616 could have also pardoned Galileo
but he did not. The trial was arranged and held by the Holy Office of the Inquisition,
not Pope Urban and not the Catholic Church.
Pope Urban was
only one of Galileo's many influential friends. One must remember that Galileo was
associated with the Medicis as well as several people in royal and top political
positions, e.g., Ambassador Francesco Niccolini and Francesco Cardinal
Barberini.
When Galileo was allowed to return to Arcetri on
the condition he would remove certain passages from the Dialogue. However, Galileo was
basically under house arrest in Arcetri and still treated as a heretic by the Holy
Office of the Inquisition which would mean that he could not be buried in a manner
fitting to his position.
By this time, however, Galileo was
getting old, was frequently sick, and was exhausted. He simply wanted to go home. Going
home to Arcetri also meant being within walking distance of Convent of San Matteo where
his eldest daughter, Maria Celeste, lived.
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