Girolamo Savonarola
Italian Dominican friar and preacher (1452-1498) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Girolamo Savonarola (21 September 1452 – 23 May 1498), was an Italian Dominican priest and leader of Florence from 1494 until his execution in 1498. Savonarola is famous for burning books, and for the destruction of what he considered immoral art. Savonarola was a priest but he preached against the moral corruption of the clergy and the Church of Rome. His main enemy was Pope Alexander VI. He is sometimes seen as a forerunner of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation, however he remained a devout Roman Catholic.
Girolamo Savonarola | |
---|---|
Religion | Christianity |
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Office | Priest, Leader of Florence |
Date of birth | (1452-09-21)September 21, 1452 |
Place of birth | Ferrara |
Date of death | May 23, 1498(1498-05-23) (aged 45) |
Place of death | Florence |
Nationality | Italian |
Began | 1494 |
Ended | 1498 |
Known for | Burning books and the destruction "immoral" art. |
In the twentieth century, a movement for the canonization of "Frà Savonarola" began to develop within the Roman Catholic Church, particularly among Dominicans. Many believe that his excommunication and execution were not legal. However, his beatification and canonization is opposed by many Jesuits, who think Savonarola's attacks on the papacy to have been a serious crime.