The Corruption of the Church

Dante's critique of the moral decay within the Church, from simony to the abuse of spiritual authority.

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The Simoniacs in Hell

The Punishment of Simony The Inverted Popes Simoniacs are thrust headfirst into holes, with flames burning their feet. Pope Nicholas III mistakes Dante for Boniface VIII, revealing the corruption of the papacy. Dante's Invective Dante delivers a fierce speech against the simoniac popes, accusing them of making a god of gold and silver, and of trampling the good and lifting the depraved.

The Hypocrites in Leaden Cloaks

The Gilded Mantles The Punishment Hypocrites wear gilded lead cloaks, heavy and dazzling. They walk slowly, weighed down. Caiaphas is crucified on the ground, trampled by the others. The Symbolism The cloaks represent the outward show of holiness that conceals inner corruption. The weight of lead symbolizes the burden of their hypocrisy.

St. Peter's Denunciation

The Pope's Usurpation The Angry Saint St. Peter's face turns red as he denounces the current pope (Boniface VIII or Clement V) who has made his see a sewer of blood. He laments that the keys are used for war and venal privileges. The Prophecy of Reform Peter predicts that divine aid will come, as it did with Scipio, to restore the Church. Dante is to report what he has seen.

The Franciscan and Dominican Decline

The Corrupted Orders Thomas's Lament St. Thomas laments that the Dominican Order has strayed from its founder's path, becoming greedy and worldly. Bonaventure's Lament St. Bonaventure similarly criticizes the Franciscans for abandoning poverty and humility. Both orders have lost their original zeal.

The Avignon Papacy and the 'Whore of Babylon'

The Vision of Corruption The Chariot Transformed Dante sees the chariot of the Church attacked by an eagle, a fox, a dragon, and then transformed into a monster with a whore and a giant. This allegorizes the Church's corruption under the Avignon papacy and its entanglement with the French monarchy. The Prophecy of Deliverance Beatrice prophesies that a 'Five-hundred, Ten, and Five' (a DXV, interpreted as a savior) will come to slay the whore and the giant, restoring the Church.

In the third bolgia of Malebolge

In the sixth bolgia of Malebolge

In the Heaven of the Fixed Stars, during the examination

In the Heaven of the Sun, during the lives of St. Francis and St. Dominic

In the Earthly Paradise, during the allegorical procession