During the opening of the Symposium on the Inquisition set up by the theological-historical commission for the forthcoming Jubilee, the Pope confirmed that he intends to ask forgiveness for the Inquisition and the violent methods used by the Church in its "search for the truth".

The symposium has been organized to prepare this request for forgiveness as "the ecclesiastic magistery cannot undertake to perform an act of an ethical nature, like that of asking for forgiveness, without first having perfect knowledge of the situation at that time".

"However, it would also be wrong to rely on a view of the past as seen by public opinion, laden as it is with an emotional charge that often prevents a level-headed and objective understanding from being reached", said Pope John Paul II.