Creation of the Rome Jewish Ghetto
- When
- 1555
- Where
- Rome; Rione Sant'Angelo, Rome
- Episodes
- 2
On 14 July 1555, Pope Paul IV issued the papal bull Cum nimis absurdum, establishing the first Jewish ghetto in Rome. The decree mandated that the city's Jewish community, numbering approximately 2,000, reside in a confined area in the Rione Sant'Angelo district. This legislative act aimed to incentivize conversion through economic and religious restrictions, marking a significant shift in papal policy toward Jewish populations.
Episodes
- Establishment of Ghetto Boundaries
The Roman Ghetto was established in the Rione Sant'Angelo district, requiring the approximately 2,000 Jews of Rome to live within its confined limits.
- Promulgation of Cum nimis absurdum
Pope Paul IV issued the papal bull Cum nimis absurdum on 14 July 1555, formally establishing the Roman Ghetto and imposing restrictions on the Jewish community.
Background and detail
Legislative Act. Pope Paul IV promulgated the papal bull Cum nimis absurdum on 14 July 1555. This document formally established the Roman Ghetto and revoked previous rights held by the Jewish community. The legislation imposed strict religious and economic restrictions, subjecting Jews to degradations and limiting their personal freedom within the Papal States.
Geographic Designation. The ghetto was located in the Rione Sant'Angelo district of Rome, near the River Tiber and the Theatre of Marcellus. The specific area was bounded by present-day streets including Via del Portico d'Ottavia and Lungotevere dei Cenci. At the time of its construction, the district lacked fresh water, a common condition in many parts of Rome.
People involved
- Pope Paul IV · Issuer of the papal bull
- Jewish community of Rome · Affected population
Sources
- Cum nimis absurdum Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-18
- Roman Ghetto Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-12
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.