Catholic Church Inquisition Mechanism

Timeline

1. 1231–1252Rome · LazioGregory IX established papal jurisdiction over heresy cases through a papal bull, authorizing Dominicans and Franciscans to serve as inquisitors and setting up permanent courts in Toulouse and elsewhere, forming an inquisitorial procedure linking interrogation, confession and punishment.
2. 1378–1417Inquisitorial courts across Western Europe · Western EuropeAfter the papal schism of 1378, both the Roman and Avignon factions maintained inquisitorial mechanisms; local bishops and delegated inquisitors continued pursuing remnants of the Cathars and emerging heresies, with procedures and confession manuals maintaining continuity through the schism.
3. 1381–1390England and Central Europe · Central EuropeIn 1382 the Blackfriars synod in London condemned John Wycliffe's writings under Church pressure; after Wycliffe died in 1384, his followers (the Lollards) were jointly pursued by the English Church and secular authorities, showing the inquisitorial mechanism working with local churches to suppress heresy.