Final answer:
Galileo's letter to the Grand Duchess Christina addressed the conflict between the heliocentric solar system and the Church's teachings, advocating for a non-literal interpretation of the Bible in matters of science and highlighting his support for the Copernican theory through telescopic observations.
Step-by-step explanation:
In his letter to the Grand Duchess Christina, Galileo discussed the heliocentric solar system hypothesis introduced by Nicolaus Copernicus which suggested that the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun. This heliocentric view was in sharp contrast to the Ptolemaic system, which had been widely accepted by the Church, and placed Earth at the center of the universe. Galileo argued that there was no conflict between the Copernican system and the religious scriptures when correctly interpreted. He advocated that the Bible should not be used as a scientific text, as its purpose was to guide spiritual salvation.
Galileo's heliocentric cosmology, supported by his own telescopic observations and experiments, posed a significant challenge to the Catholic Church's doctrinal teachings at the time. This stance resulted in a clash with Church authorities, leading to the Church's declaration in 1616 that the Copernican doctrine was 'false and absurd.' Despite the Inquisition's prohibition, Galileo's commitment to empirical evidence and observation laid the foundation for modern experimental physics and astronomical science.