 ad extirpanda (named for its latin incipit) was a papal bull promulgated on wednesday, may 15, 1252 by pope innocent iv which authorized in limited and defined circumstances the use of torture by the inquisition for eliciting confessions from heretics.bishop, j (2006). aquinas on torture new blackfriars, 87:229. ==content== the bull was issued in the wake of the murder of the papal inquisitor of lombardy, st. peter of verona, who was killed by a conspiracy of cathar sympathizers on 6 april 1252. the bull argued that as heretics are "murderers of souls as well as robbers of godâs sacraments and of the christian faith ...", they are "to be coercedâas are thieves and banditsâinto confessing their errors and accusing others, although one must stop short of danger to life or limb." ad extirpanda, quoted at the roman theological forum the following parameters were placed on the use of torture: *that it did not cause loss of life or limb (citra membri diminutionem et mortis periculum) *that it was used only once *that the inquisitor deemed the evidence against the accused to be virtually certain. the bull conceded to the state a portion of the property to be confiscated from convicted heretics.new schaff-herzog encyclopedia: ii. "the inquisition in the middle ages". concise historical context of ad extirpanda the state in return assumed the burden of carrying out the penalty. the relevant portion of the bull read: "when those adjudged guilty of heresy have been given up to the civil power by the bishop or his representative, or the inquisition, the podestÃ  or chief magistrate of the city shall take them at once, and shall, within five days at the most, execute the laws made against them."kline, austin. "chronology of medieval christianity." about.com. ==references==  ==external links== *ad extirpanda, english translation
13th-century_papal_bulls Documents_of_Pope_Innocent_IV Torture