Auto-da-fé (Auto de Fe)

An Auto-da-fé, meaning "Act of Faith" in Portuguese, was a public ceremony during the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions, held to display the punishment of those accused of heresy or religious crimes. It often involved the reading of charges, confession, and public penance, culminating in sentencing and sometimes execution, such as burning at the stake. These events aimed to reaffirm the authority of the Church and spread fear of heresy. Over time, the term has come to broadly refer to any dramatic or public display of judgment or punishment.