How did Paolo Sarpi defend Venice during the papal interdict?

During the 1606 papal interdict, Paolo Sarpi served as the state theologian and consultor to the Venetian government, mounting a robust defense of the Republic’s sovereignty in temporal affairs.12

Sarpi defended Venice through the following arguments and actions:

• Challenge to Papal Authority: He argued that the pope’s infallibility was limited strictly to matters of faith and that the interdict was invalid. He maintained that princes derive their authority directly from God and are accountable only to Him for the governance of their people.1
• Temporal Prerogatives: Sarpi asserted that in the temporal sphere, the papacy held no prerogatives superior to the sovereign rights of the state. He justified the Venetian laws limiting church building by noting that ecclesiastical property was extensive yet paid no taxes to the state.31
• Legal Jurisdiction: Regarding the two priests detained by Venice, Sarpi argued that while the church could try them for ecclesiastical offenses, the state held the responsibility to try them in civil courts for crimes such as murder and adultery.1
• Public Morale: By writing in a clear, witty style based on historical facts rather than legal textbooks, Sarpi successfully sustained Venetian morale and garnered international sympathy for the Republic’s position.1