In a solemn audience, held on 10 November 1979 before the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the College of Cardinals and the Diplomatic Corps to the Holy See, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Albert Einstein, John Paul II requested that theologians, scholars and historians, animated by a spirit of sincere collaboration, will study the Galileo case more deeply ..."This desire was concretized in the constitution by the Pope in July 1981 of a commission to "coordinate the research of theologians, scientists and historians which would help to further clarify the events which occurred between Galileo and the Church and,

The commission consisted of four working groups to deal with exegetics, general culture, science and epistemology, and history and jurisprudence. The task of the commission was officially described as a scholarly and calm reflection, founded on objective evidence and emphatically not a new trial nor an attempt at rehabilitation.