Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Venetian-born monk and philosopher Paolo Sarpi convincingly argued Venice's case,
claiming Venice's right to self-determination came directly from God, not through Rome.
Before the excommunication could cause further loss of Church property in Venice, or
other Catholic territories became convinced by Sarpi's argument, Pope Paul V rescinded
his bull.
But the power struggle didn't stop there. After Rome issued its umpteenth official rep-
rimand of Venice, the Venetian state decided to do some paperwork of its own. Venice
conducted an official 1767 audit of 11 million golden ducats in revenues rendered to
Rome in the previous decade, and decided to cut its losses: 127 Veneto monasteries and
convents were closed, cutting the local clerical population in half and redirecting millions
of ducats to Venice's coffers.
