In tempo di crisi. Note su Paolo III, gli ebrei e la questione ebraica nella prima metà del cInquecento

This article deals with the complicated dynamics of Pope Paul III’s relationship with the Jews and Judaism. In the first part, I provide a comprehensive overview of the historiography about his attitude towards the Jews. On the one hand, Paul III acted as a tolerant pope who protected prominent Jewish scholars and financiers such as Jacob Mantino. On the other hand, as the Pope of the Counter-Refor- mation, he adopted an intolerant stance by initiating the establishment of the House of Catechumens, persecuting converts, reviving the aggressive Roman Inquisition and introducing the Tridentine Council. Despite this apparent contradiction, I argue in the second part that Farnese’s various approaches to the Jews should be seen as an integral part of Paul III’s overarching political and ideological strategy, which both the Papal States and the Catholic Church pursued during the crisis of the 16th century.