Final answer:
The 'Auto-da-Fe' was a public ceremony of the Spanish Inquisition where judgments and sentences for heresy were carried out, often including executions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term 'Auto-da-Fe' refers to the public ceremony during which the Spanish Inquisition pronounced its judgment and carried out the sentencing of those convicted of heresy. 'Auto-da-Fe' can be translated from Portuguese as 'Act of Faith.' It involved various elements, including a mass, a public procession of those found guilty, and a reading of their sentences. These events were typically followed by punishment, which could range from penance to execution, often by burning at the stake. These ceremonies were primarily intended to showcase the power of the church and to deter others from committing acts of heresy. It is a historical concept that emphasizes the severity of religious intolerance during the Spanish Inquisition era.