I know the Galileo account is well loved, but even Ptolomy said his model was a mere mathematical model and there was no way of determining whether the sun or the Earth was at the centre. Copernicus formulated and published his heliocentric model before Galllileo and had no trouble with the Church.

On the other hand Galllelio cast his account as a discussion between two people, one of whom was, I think, called Simplico and was taken to be a representation of the Pope.

Calling powerful people simpletons is always a risky move, was especially so in those days, and probably played no little part in the drama that followed.


So yes, the account above is accurate as far as it goes, but may well leave out some significant interpersonal matters. Itt is unlikely it was all about science.