Pius Papa V. Praeceptum De Iudæorum exterminatione ex omni dominio temporali S.R.E. & subditorum, præter Romam & Anconam [on the expulsion from all the dominions of the Sacred Roman Empire and possessions, except for Rome and Ancona]

Papal Bull of Pius V, beginning with the significant phrase “Hebracorum gens” accusing the Jews of religious seduction, soothsaying and the practice of magic. It orders the expulsion of the Jews from all Papal territory except Rome and Ancona. As Cardinal Ghislieri, Pope Pius V was head of the Inquisition and led the assault on Jewish literature during the decade preceding his canonization. His devotion to the cause of the Counter-Reformation was evinced by the return of the atmosphere of repression with his election to the papacy. The order of expulsion was a terrible blow to Italian Jewry. In places where prosperous congregations had existed for many generations, the Jews were banished, places of worship were closed and the cemeteries were destroyed. The majority of the exiles had no choice but to crowd together in the already congested Roman Ghetto. Rome and Ancona were exempted from the ban because of the importance of Jewish trade with the Levant. In 1586, the papal Bull of Sixtus V, Chriana pietas, (“Christian piety”) relieved the Jews of many of the oppresive social and economic restrictions imposed by Paul IV and Pius V. However in 1593, the infamous Papal Bull of Clement VIII, Caeca et Obdurata (“Blind and Obdurate”), restored the previous state of oppression, remaining in force until the 19th century. See Kenneth R. Stow, Catholic Thought and Papal Jewry Policy 1555-1593 (1977) pp.36-8 and C. Roth, The History of the Jews of Italy (1946), pp.305-8. Clement VIII’s Bull, Caeca et Obdurata, was sold by Kestenbaum & Company, June 22nd, 1999, Lot 428 and Sixtus V’s Bull, Chriana pietas, was sold by Kestenbaum & Company, June 26th, 2001, Lot 275