The papal bull Summis desiderantes affectibus, issued by Pope Innocent VIII in December 1484, represented a crucial point in the Catholic Church's stance on witchcraft and heresy during the late Middle Ages. Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger, appointed inquisitors by the bull, were tasked with rooting out alleged practitioners of witchcraft in Germany. The bull emerged from a broader context of fear and paranoia about witches, fueled by social, political, and religious turmoil across Europe. The late 15th century was marked by a rise in the belief that witches could cause harm through diabolical means, leading to a surge in accusations and trials. Kramer and Sprenger’s authority was significant; they were empowered to investigate and prosecute individuals believed to be involved in witchcraft. Their subsequent work included the publication of the notorious witch-hunting manual, Malleus Maleficarum (The Hammer of Witches), which provided guidelines for identifying, prosecuting, and punishing witches. This document, influenced by the papal bull, became instrumental in the witch hunts that swept through Europe in the following decades, resulting in countless trials and executions.The issuance of the papal bull and the actions of Kramer and Sprenger marked the beginning of systematic witch hunts sanctioned by the Church. It fundamentally altered the landscape of legal and religious authority concerning witchcraft. This institutional endorsement of witch hunting fostered an environment where fear reigned, leading to widespread persecution and numerous tragic outcomes throughout Europe in the centuries to follow.