List of Papal Bulls on Jewish Question

Following is a partial list of Papal Bulls and other relevant documents regarding the Jewish question, illustrating both the partial protection offered the Jews at different times and the institutionalization of Anti-Semitism.
Where protection was offered, it was often done in a condescending manner, asserting the Christian duty to have mercy on the Jews even though they were collectively guilty of killing Jesus (or in modern times, "forgiving" the Jews for killing Jesus) or was simply rescinding previous decrees. Catholic persecution of Jews - and protection - began in the Middle Ages, but the persecution continued and was intensified well after the Middle Ages, notably in the Inquisition and in the formation and regulation of ghettos, which began in the 1500s, well after the end of the Middle Ages. The Papal bulls and encyclicals that advanced and supported anti-Semitism included the following sorts of decrees:

Special badges or dress for Jews

Special taxes for Jews

Forcing Jews to remit debt of Christians

Banning, confiscating or burning Jewish law books and other writings.

Encouraging or forcing conversion of Jews

Expelling Jews from Papal territories or forcing Jews to live in ghettos.

Inquisition for backsliding converted Jews,

Many believed and hoped that Catholic persecution of Jews had ended in the period of Pope John XXIII. Recent Bulls and Encyclicals of Pope Benedict XVI that reinstate anti-Semitic prayers and Catholic societies do not augur well.
Pius V was perhaps the worst of the anti-Semitic Popes. He was nonetheless canonized and the canonization was not rescinded.
In addition to the actual regulations depriving Jews of livelihood or home or forcing conversions, the Bulls often were prefaced with language of racist incitement that indicated the attitude of the Catholic Church to Jews.
The Bull Cum Nimis Absurdum ("How completely absurd") of Paul IV, 1555, which created the ghetto of Rome, began with these words:

As it is completely absurd and improper in the utmost that the Jews, who through their own fault were condemned by God to eternal servitude,

The Bull Hebraeorum gens ("The Jewish Race") 1569, of Saint Pius V, which expelled Jews from some of the Papal states, began with these words:

"The Jewish people fell from the heights because of their faithlessness and condemned their Redeemer to a shameful death. Their godlessness has assumed such forms that, for the salvation of our own people, it becomes necessary to prevent their disease. Besides usury, through which Jews everywhere have sucked dry the property of impoverished Christians, they are accomplices of thieves and robbers; and the most damaging aspect of the matter is that they allure the unsuspecting through magical incantations, superstition, and witchcraft to the Synagogue of Satan and boast of being able to predict the future. We have carefully investigated how this revolting sect abuses the name of Christ and how harmful they are to those whose life is threatened by their deceit. On account of these and other serious matters, and because of the gravity of their crimes which increase day to day more and more, We order that, within 90 days, all Jews in our entire earthly realm of justice -- in all towns, districts, and places -- must depart these regions."

The above is quoted in modern anti-Semitic works, including Catholic publications and the Stormfront Website.
To the modern reader, the Papal bulls seem to present a conflicting picture. Sometimes privileges were revoked and sometimes extended. Often the same Pope would order protection of the Jews from bodily harm but enact discriminatory laws of various kinds. Thus, the church would encourage hatred of Jews, but then it would discourage violence against Jews. For Catholic theology there was no contradiction. The role of the Jews was to serve as an example of the wages of sin to Christians. Therefore, the Jews must be tortured and ridiculed, but never killed.
The documents listed below are Papal Bulls unless otherwise noted. The Bulls get their titles from the initial words, generally the first three words, of the text of the document, which are known as the incipit. Note that there may be several Bulls with the same title by different Popes, and on entirely different subjects.
Explanation of terms:

"Jus Gasaga" - a corruption of "Jus Chazaka" - the law of the right of tenancy of Jews, usually in ghetto homes.
Catechumen - a person being taught the Catechism, a new convert. The Bulls called for a special tax on Jews, to be used to support the catechumens. The house of Catechumens in Rome was used as an instrument for forced conversion, and its victims included the chief Rabbi of Rome.
Neophyte - a new convert.
The sources generally do not distinguish between Bulls, encyclicals and other documents of more limited circulation.

Papal Bulls and other documents Relating to Jews

Pope	Bull/Document	Date	Subject
Gregory I	Sicut judaeis non	598	A letter, supplemented by others, provided limited protection of Jews. "Just as no freedom may be granted to the Jews in their communities to exceed the limits legally set for them, so they should in no way suffer through a violation of their rights" The letter contained the phrase "Sicut Judaeis" - and thus to the Jews. Gregory forbade Jews to have Christian slaves, and encouraged conversions. The measures of protection along with limitations and persecution, and even the wording of Sicut iudaeis were repeated in subsequent bulls and letters of various popes. It became the model for treatment of Jews.
Calixtus II	Sicut Judaeis	c. 1120	Probably the first formal version of Sicut Judaies. Reiterates protection of the Jews in the wake of the persecutions of the first Crusade.
Innocent III	Post miserabile	Aug. 1198	Addressed to prelates of Europe and dealt with the need for another Crusade. Suspended payment of interest and principal to Jewish lenders for crusaders. Since many did not return, the debt was effectively cancelled.
Innocent III	Etsi non displiceat	1205	Addressed to King of France. Accuses Jews of usury, blasphemy, arrogance, employing Christian slaves and murder. Urges king to put an end to the "evils."
Honorius III	Sicut judaeis non debet esse licentia	Nov. 7, 1217	Forbids forced baptism of Jews or molestation.
Honorius III	In general consilio	1218	To archbishop of Toledo, requires enforcement of 4th Lateran Council decisions that Jews must wear special clothing and pay tithes to the local churches.
Honorius III	Ad nostram Noveritis audientiam	April 29, 1221	Jews are obliged to carry a distinctive badge and forbidden to hold public office.
Gregory IX	Sufficere debuerat perfidioe judoerum perfidia	March 5, 1233	Jews forbidden to employ Christian servants.
Gregory IX	Etsi Judeorum	1233	To prelates of France, urged prevention of physical violence against Jews.
Gregory IX	Si vera sunt	1239	To kings and prelates of Spain and France - orders seizure of Talmud and other Jewish books and examination for blasphemy against Jesus. These books were regularly burned or censored.
Innocent IV	Impia judoerum perfidia	May 9, 1244	French King ordered to burn the Talmud. Jews forbidden to employ Christian nurses.
Innocent IV	Lachrymabilem Judaeorum	1247	To German prelates; orders an end to persecution of Jews and declares that the blood libel accusation is false.
Clement IV	Turbato corde	July 26, 1267	Christians forbidden to embrace Judaism
Gregory X	Turbato corde	March 1, 1274	(Identical to previous.)
Nicolas III	Vineam Sorec	Aug. 4, 1278	Addressed to orders of friars - Preaching to the Jews is encouraged and friars are to be specially trained for this purpose. Also known as Vineam Soreth.
Nicolas IV	Turbato corde	Sept. 5, 1288	Christians who embrace Judaism
John XXII	Ex Parte Vestra	Aug. 12, 1317	Relapse of converts.
John XXII	Cum sit absurdum	June 19, 1320	Converted Jews need not be despoiled.
Clement VI	Quamvis Perfidiam	September 26, 1348	Tries in vain to dispel the superstition that Jews are responsible for Black Death by poisoning the wells
Urban V	Sicuti judaeis non debet	June 7, 1365	Forbidden to molest Jews or to force them to baptism.
Benedict XIII (Anti-Pope)	Etsi doctoribus gentium	1415	A collection of anti-Jewish church legislation that served as an inspiration to other Popes.
Martin V	Sedes apostolica	June 3, 1425	Jews obliged to wear distinctive badge.
Eugene IV	Dudum ad nostram audientiam	Aug. 4, 1442	Forbade Jews to live with Christians or fill public functions, etc.
Calixtus III	Si ad reprimendos	May 28, 1456	Confirmed the preceding Bull of Eugene IV forbidding Jews to live with Christians.
Sixtus IV	Numquam dubitavimus	1482	To Ferdinand of Aragon, to appoint inquisitors to extirpate heresy and investigate backsliding of Jewish converts to Christianity. The Spanish Inquisition and expulsion of the Jews from Spain followed.
Paul III	Cupientes judaeos	March 21, 1542	Privileges in favor of neophytes.
Paul III	Illius, qui pro dominici	Feb. 19, 1543	Establishment of a monastery for catechumens and neophytes.
Jules III	Pastoris aeternivices	Aug. 31, 1554	Tax in favor of neophytes
Paul IV	Cum Nimis Absurdum	July 14, 1555	Jews forbidden to live in common with Christians, to practice any industry, etc.
Paul IV	Dudum postquam	March 23, 1556	Tax in favor of neophytes
Pius IV	Cum inter ceteras	Jan. 26, 1562	Bull relative to monastery of catechumens.
Pius IV	Dudum e felicis recordationis	Feb. 27, 1562	Bull confirming that of Paul IV.
Pius V	Romanus Pontifex	April 19, 1566	Bull confirming that of Paul IV
Pius V	Sacrosanctae catholicae ecclesiae	Nov. 29, 1566	Bull relating to convent of neophytes
Pius V	Cum nos nuper	Jan. 19, 1567	Jews are forbidden to own real estate
Pius V	Hebraeorum gens	Feb. 26, 1569	Accuses Jews of many evils including magic. Orders expulsion of Jews from Church States except Rome and Ancona.
Gregory XIII	Vices ejus nos	Sept. 1, 1577	Obligatory preaching of Christian sermons to Jews;. Creation of college of neophytes.
Gregory XIII	Antiqua judaeorum improbitas	July 1, 1581	Against blasphemers.
Gregory XIII	Sancta Mater Ecclesiae	Sept. 1, 1584	Obligatory preaching of Christian sermons to Jews;100 men and 50 women must be sent every Saturday to listen to conversion sermons delivered in a church near the ghetto.
Sixtus V	Christiana pietas	Oct. 22, 1586	Privileges granted to Jews by relief of former edicts. These were reversed. by Clemen VIII.
Clement VIII	Cum saepe accidere	Feb. 28, 1592	Jews of Avignon forbidden to sell new goods.
Clement VIII	Caeca et obdurata	Feb. 25, 1593	Confirmation of the Bull of Paul III. Jews forbidden to dwell outside of Rome, Ancona, and Avignon.
Clement VIII	Cum Haebraeorum malitia	Feb. 28, 1593	It is forbidden to read the Talmud.
Paul V	Apostolicae servitutis	July 31, 1610	Regulars (of monks) obliged to learn Hebrew.
Paul V	Exponi nobis nuper fecistis	Aug. 7, 1610	Bull concerning the dowries of Jewish women.
Urban VIII	Sedes apostolica	April 22, 1625	Concerning heretical Portuguese Jews.
Urban VIII	Injuncti nobis	Aug. 20, 1626	Privileges granted to the monastery of catechumens
Urban VIII	Cum sicut acceptimus	Oct. 18, 1635	Obligation to feed poor Jews imprisoned for debt.
Urban VIII	Cum allias piae	March 17, 1636	Synagogues of the Duchies of Ferarri and Urban, to pay a tax of 10 ecus.
Alexander VII	Verbi aeterni	Dec. 1, 1657	Bull relating to rights of neophytes regarding jus gasaga.(rights of tenancy in the ghetto)
Alexander VII	Ad ea per quae	Nov. 15, 1658	Jus Gasaga (rights of tenancy in the ghetto)
Alexander VII	Ad apostolicae dignitatis	May 23, 1662	Concordat between the college of neophytes and German college.
Alexander VII	Illius, qui illuminat	March 6, 1663	Privileges favoring the fraternities of neophytes.
Alexander VIII	Animarum saluti	March 30, 1690	Bull relating to the neophytes in Indies.
Innocent XII	Ad radicitus submovendum	Aug. 31, 1692	Abolition of special jurisdiction
Clement XI	Propagandae per unicersum	March 11, 1704	Confirmation and extension of Paul III regarding neophytes.
Clement XI	Essendoci stato rappresentato	Jan. 21, 1705	Powers of Vicar of Rome in jurisdiction of catechumens and neophytes
Clement XI	Salvatoris nostri vices	Jan. 2, 1712	Transfer to "Pii Operai" the work of the catechumens.
Innocent XIII	Ex injuncto nobis	Jan. 18, 1724	Prohibits sale of new objects.
Benedict XIII	Nuper, pro parte dilectorum	Jan. 8, 1726	Establishment of dowries for young girl neophytes.
Benedict XIII	Emanavit nuper	Feb. 14, 1727	Necessary conditions for imposing baptism on a Jew.
Benedict XIII	Alias emanarunt	March 21, 1729	Forbidding the sale of new goods.
Benedict XIV	Postremomens	Feb. 28, 1747	The baptism of Jews
Benedict XIV	Apostolici Ministerii munus	Sept. 16, 1747	Right of repudiation of neophytes.
Benedict XIV	Singulari Nobis consoldtioni	Feb. 9, 1749	Marriages between Jews and Christians.
Benedict XIV	Elapso proxime Anno	Feb. 20, 1751	Concerning Jewish heretics.
Benedict XIV	Probe te meminisse	Dec. 15, 1751	Baptism of Jewish children
Benedict XIV	Beatus Andreas	Feb. 22, 1755	Martyrdom of a child by Jews. A blood libel concerning the murder of the child Andreas Oxner or Anderl von Rinn (Andreas of Rinn ) by Jews that supposedly took place in 1462 in Rinn near Innsbruck. Confirms the blood libel as factual. The Bull reviews the cases of ritual murder by Jews, which it explicitly upholds as a fact, and establishes the beatifcation but not the canonization of Andreas of Rinn and Simon of Trent

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