Henry VIII excommunication - July 11, 1533 - True or not?

Today in History - July 11

An important date in Europe, England and the Catholic Church. Henry VIII is excommunicated from the Catholic Church by Pope Clement VII on July 11, 1533. Really? Almost!

On that day, Pope Clement VII threatened English King Henry VIII with ex-communication if he did not resume his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. The pope gave Henry time until September to solve the issue though. However for the English at the royal court, the decree already marked the formal excommunication of the king given everyone knew that Henry had no intention to change the situation. Subsequently the English part of the Chruch annulled the marriage but the pope still did not issue the bull as he hoped for a solution. Clement did in 1534 and his successor Pope Paul III waited until 1538 to issue the bull.

It was a common misunderstanding the excommunication of Henry took place in 1533. It was simply only a warning, the pope drew up a bull of excommunicating of Henry, but it was never issued. However many still believe it was Clement VII issued a Bull of excommunication on 11 July 1533, declaring, also, his divorce and remarriage null. The truth is that he was excommunicated by Paul III in 1538.