Regnans in Excelsis
Regnans in Excelsis (Latin: ruling in the heights) is a papal bull by Pope Pius V with which he excommunicated the English Queen Elizabeth I on February 25, 1570 (other sources refer to April 25, 1570) .
Charge of heresy
In the opening remarks, the Pope addressed the duty of obedience , he demanded that those rulers, who are called by God's goodness, must obey it. He accused Elizabeth I of having turned against the doctrine of the faith. In doing so she acted ungodly and ungodly.
In the further text he accuses her of forbidding the true religion and of having been guilty of the death of the former King Henry VIII . He also named Mary of Scotland as the rightful Queen of England .
He made serious accusations against Queen Elisabeth for having committed heresy with obscure men by denying the doctrine of the Catholic faith and calling against rules of fasting and celibacy . Instead, she introduced the rites and rules of Calvin and swore the clergy and preachers in these institutions. She dared to expel bishops, to depose rectors and Catholic priests and thus made herself guilty of heresy.
excommunication
The Pope, he explains, now sees himself, as the supreme shepherd, compelled to introduce the toughest sanctions against Elisabeth . Thus she was excommunicated and expelled from the Roman Catholic Church . In addition, Pius V declared that he would deprive her of her royal dignity , and that all privileges and noble dignities were associated with it.
Oath
The Pope released all nobles , subjects and servants who had sworn an oath on the Queen from their oath of allegiance . He ordered all people to return to the “bosom” of the Catholic Church and threatened those who would not follow this invitation with excommunication.