Editing Pope Paul V (section)

====Ecclesiastical jurisdiction====
{{Main|Venetian Interdict}}
Paul's insistence of ecclesiastical jurisdiction led to a number of quarrels between the Church and the secular governments of various states, notably [[Republic of Venice|Venice]], where patricians, such as Ermolao Barbaro (1548–1622) of the noble [[Barbaro family]], argued in favor of the exemption of the clergy from the jurisdiction of the civil courts. Venice passed two laws obnoxious to Paul, one forbidding the alienation of real estate in favour of the clergy, the second demanding approval of the civil power for the building of new churches.<ref name=Loughlin/> Two priests charged by the Venetian state with cruelty, wholesale poisoning, murder and licentiousness, were arrested by the [[Venetian Senate]] and put in dungeons for trial. Having been found guilty, they were committed to prison.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}

Paul V insisted that they be released to the Church.  He demanded the release of the priests as not being amenable to the secular law. When this was refused, the Pope threatened an [[interdict]] on account of the property laws and the imprisonment of ecclesiastics, which threat was presented to the Senate on Christmas 1605.  The Venetian position was ably defended by a canon lawyer, [[Paolo Sarpi]], who extended the matter to general principles defining separate secular and ecclesiastical spheres. In April 1606 the Pope [[excommunication|excommunicated]] the entire government of Venice and placed an [[Venetian Interdict|interdict]] on the city.  Father Sarpi strongly advised the Venetian government to refuse to receive the Pope's interdict, and to reason with him while opposing force by force. The Venetian Senate willingly accepted this advice and Fra Paolo presented the case to Paul V, urging from history that the Pope's claim to intermeddle in civil matters was a usurpation; and that in these matters the Republic of Venice recognized no authority but that of God. The rest of the Catholic clergy sided with the city, with the exception of the [[Jesuits]], the [[Theatines]], and the [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin|Capuchins]]. The dissenting clergy were forthwith expelled from Venetian territories. [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]]es continued to be said in Venice, and the feast of [[Corpus Christi (feast)|Corpus Christi]] was celebrated with displays of public pomp and "magnificence", in defiance of the Pope. Within a year (March 1607) the disagreement was mediated by [[Kingdom of France|France]] and [[Habsburg Spain|Spain]]. The Most Serene Republic refused to retract the laws, but asserted that Venice would conduct herself "with her ''accustomed piety''."  The Jesuits, which Venice considered subversive Papal agents, remained banned. No more could be expected. Paul withdrew his censure.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}

The Venetian Republic rewarded Fra Paulo Sarpi, its successful canon lawyer, with the distinction of state counsellor in jurisprudence and the liberty of access to the state archives, which infuriated Pope Paul.  In September 1607, after unsuccessfully attempting to lure Father Sarpi to Rome, the Pope responded by putting out a contract on his life.<ref>Watson, J. Henry, ''The History of Fra Paolo Sarpi'', New York: La Croce (1911)</ref>  Father Sarpi was the target of at least two assassination plots in September and October. Stabbed three times with a [[stiletto]],<ref>Whitfield, John Humphreys and  Woodhouse, John Robert. ''A Short History of Italian Literature'', Manchester University Press, 1980, p. 187</ref> Fra Sarpi somehow managed to recover, while the assassins found refuge in the Papal States.<ref>Robertson, Alexander, ''Fra Paolo Sarpi: the Greatest of the Venetians'', London: Sampson, Low, Marston & Co. (1893), pp. 114–117</ref>