Etsi Judaeis

The papal bull Etsi Judaeis, issued in 1120 by Pope Callixtus II, offered a degree of protection to Roman Jews. This bull was part of a broader historical context where the Roman Catholic Church, while centralizing its power during the High Middle Ages, also engaged in the formation of a "persecuting society". This involved defining who was considered a Christian and taking actions against those who were not, including heretics and Jews. While the church's reforms under figures like Gregory VII and Innocent III led to significant achievements, they also contributed to a hardening of attitudes towards minority groups. The Etsi Judaeis bull stands as an example of papal efforts to regulate the treatment of Jews, though historical accounts indicate that violence and persecution against Jewish populations were prevalent during this era.12