The «citoyen» Grégoire and the pontifical reserves debate at the end of the 18th century

Abstract

Henri‑Baptiste Grégoire, Head of the Galican Church, exerted a strong pressure on Godoy and the leading groups from Madrid in order to convince them to abolish the Inquisition, and also to defend the old Episcopal jurisdiction and the right of the King to intervene in questions related to ecclesiastical discipline. All the matters reserved to the pontifical chance­llery —the collection of the annatas, the rights of matrimonial dispensations— were abuses to the detriment of canonical law, and have to be restored to the Spanish bishops. This debate centered the diplomatic relations between the Spanish government and Rome from 1797 to 1799.