Issuance of Papal Bull Summis Desiderantes Affectibus

Background. Dominican Inquisitor Heinrich Kramer sought explicit authority to prosecute witchcraft in Germany after local ecclesiastical authorities refused assistance. They argued that his letter of deputation did not specifically mention where inquisitors could operate, preventing them from legally exercising functions in their areas. This refusal prompted Kramer to seek direct papal intervention to secure jurisdiction for himself and his colleague.

Issuance of the Bull. Pope Innocent VIII issued Summis desiderantes affectibus on 5 December 1484. The bull ratified the powers already conferred upon Kramer, also known as Henry Institoris, and James Sprenger to deal with witchcraft and heresy. It called upon the Bishop of Strasburg to lend the inquisitors all possible support, effectively overriding local resistance by providing explicit papal authorization for their activities.

Aftermath. Despite the papal backing, the bull failed to ensure Kramer obtained the support he had hoped for. This lack of practical enforcement led him to retire and compile his views on witchcraft into the book Malleus Maleficarum, published in 1487. The Malleus professed to have been approved by the University of Cologne and included the text of the bull in its preface to imply papal approval for the work.