During the first two centuries after the declaration of the incompatibility of the Copernican system with Scripture (1616) and the resulting condemnation of Galileo (1633), the Catholic Church was confronted with  ever increasing evidence (both theoretical and observational) in favor of Copernicus’ views. While gradually adapting to the new situation, the Catholic Churches had avoided mentioning the "Galileo Affair" and even more admitting any responsibility in it. As is well known, the first frank acknowledgment of that responsibility was made by the present Pope John Paul II in a speech at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, in 1979. As a result of the desire then expressed by the Pope for a new reappraisal of the Galileo case "in a loyal recognition of wrongs from whatever side they come", a Study Commission on the Galileo Case was created two years later. The results of its work were presented by Cardinal Poupard in his address to the Pope, on the occasion of a solemn seance of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences on 31 October 1992. To that address John Paul II answered with his speech, which was intended to offer the official "closing act" by the Catholic Church of the 350 years old "Galileo Affair".

In my conference I offer a critical review of both speeches. Concerning the address of Cardinal Poupard, I point out the presence in it of several, serious misrepresentations regarding cardinal Bellarmine’s position on the Copernican issue and the historical sequence and meaning of the steps taken by the Catholic Church for the gradual acceptance of the heliocentric system. As for the papal discourse, I consider some rather debatable assertions contained in it. Even more important, perhaps, I call attention to a noticeable shift from the frank recognition of the responsibilities of the "organisms of the Church", prominent in the 1979 speech, to a significantly downgraded admission of mistakes committed by not well specified "theologians", present in this one. Based on these considerations, I conclude that both speeches represent unfortunately a less than satisfactory "closing" of the Galileo Affair by the Catholic Church.