What is the Papal Index?

The Papal Index, formally known as the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, was a list published by the Catholic Church that contained books deemed heretical, dangerous to faith, or contrary to morality. First established in the 16th century, it aimed to protect the faithful from potentially harmful literature. The Index was officially abolished in 1966 by Pope Paul VI, reflecting a shift towards greater openness and engagement with modern thought.