Final answer:
The individual from the 1600s who believed in an infinite universe and was persecuted by the Church was Galileo Galilei. He was not killed but placed under house arrest for his support of the heliocentric model, which challenged long-held geocentric views.
Step-by-step explanation:
The person from the 1600s who believed in an infinite universe and faced persecution from the Roman Catholic Church was Galileo Galilei. Contrary to the belief that he was tortured and killed, Galileo was actually placed under house arrest for the latter part of his life. His support for the Copernican theory of heliocentrism challenged the geocentric model endorsed by the Church, which held Earth as the universe's center, rooted in the works of Aristotle and Ptolemy. Galileo expanded the understanding of celestial movements and provided strong evidence that supported the heliocentric model, posing a direct challenge to the Church's theological and philosophical positions.
Galileo's advocacy for this new model of the cosmos, particularly through his telescope observations, led to his condemnation by the Church. In 1616, the Church issued a decree prohibiting the Copernican doctrine, labeling it "false and absurd." Galileo's willingness to publish in Italian rather than Latin and his public lectures made his ideas accessible and influential, contributing to a growing scientific revolution that saw the eventual acceptance of the heliocentric model.