Canto XIX, lines 103 - 105 1. Whom is Dante speaking to here and what does Dante accuse him of? Why does Dante
think this is a terrible crime?

Dante is speaking to here is Pope Nicholas III.

Dante accused him of being audacious against Charles I and earning money through evil doing.

Dante perceive this to be a terrible crime because, according to him, the Church should not seek secular power.

Explanation:

'Inferno' is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri in the 14th century. The poem is about Dante's journey through three levels of Hell.

In Canto XIX, Dante and Virgil enters the rim of the third pit of Circle VIII. In this circle, souls of those who are guilty of Simony were there.

In lines 103-105, Dante speaks to Pope Nicholas III, who also committed Simony.

Dante accuses him of being audacious against Charles I of Naples and Sicily. After Nicholas III came to the office of Pope, he ensured to secure land and money for his family, and played trickery on Charles I by asking him to leave his throne as a Roman Senator.

Dante thinks that this is a terrible crime and Nicholas is rightfully placed in the circle and rightfully deserves the punishment because the Pope and the Church should not seek secular power. At that time, Church became corrupted and Pope began to seek secular power in politics, which was abominated by Dante.

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