This fascinating osella was created at a time when Venice was at the center of a fierce conflict with the Church of Rome. The Republic, jealous of its autonomy, had always established that even the clergy should be subject to the laws of the state, a position that had generated increasingly evident friction over time. At the beginning of the 17th century, these tensions translated into a series of measures aimed at limiting ecclesiastical influence: first, state control was imposed on the construction of new religious buildings, then the transfer of goods and wealth to Church entities was blocked.

In Rome, Pope Paul V interpreted these decisions as a direct challenge to his authority. The situation escalated when a Venetian cleric was arrested by civil authorities. The Pontiff reacted firmly, demanding the priest's immediate release and the repeal of laws deemed hostile to the Church. Venice, however, did not back down: indeed, the republican magistrates strengthened their position by arresting a second member of the clergy, accused of serious crimes and behavior incompatible with his role.

This clash marked an unprecedented rupture in relations between the Serenissima and the Papacy. Paul V responded by preparing two official documents addressed to the Doge, in which he reiterated his demands and challenged the Venetian state's right to judge ecclesiastics. However, unforeseen events slowed the confrontation: the death of Doge Marino Grimani forced the delivery of the papal documents to be postponed.

With the accession of Leonardo Donà, a connoisseur of Roman political instability but determined to defend the Republic's independence, the issue was addressed on both a legal and political level. The Venetian government relied on the opinion of Paolo Sarpi, a highly respected friar and scholar, charged with assessing the legitimacy of the papal claims. His conclusions convinced the Senate that Venice had acted in full compliance with its prerogatives.

Rome's response was not long in coming: in April 1606 the Pope issued a solemn decree officially condemning the Republic's attitude, bringing the conflict between civil power and religious authority to its highest point.