Execution was never carried out by the church directly for theological reasons, but by secular authorities. This procedure was clarified in the ''Ad exstirpanda'' papal bull written by Pope Innocent IV in 1252, which also authorized the use of torture for extracting confessions from the accused and recommended burning at the stake as the appropriate punishment for those found guilty and unrepentant. ''Ad exstirpanda'' marked the beginning of one of the most brutal periods of Inquisition. | Execution was never carried out by the church directly for theological reasons, but by secular authorities. This procedure was clarified in the ''Ad exstirpanda'' papal bull written by Pope Innocent IV in 1252, which also authorized the use of torture for extracting confessions from the accused and recommended burning at the stake as the appropriate punishment for those found guilty and unrepentant. ''Ad exstirpanda'' marked the beginning of one of the most brutal periods of Inquisition. |