Where Did Conciliarism Take Place?

James H. Sterling
James H. Sterling
• • 7 min read

Conciliarism Was a Reform Movement in the 14Th-, 15Th- and 16Th-Century Catholic Church Which Held That Supreme Authority in the Church Resided with an...

Where Did Conciliarism Take Place?

Conciliarism was a reform movement in the 14th-, 15th- and 16th-century Catholic Church which held that supreme authority in the Church resided with an Ecumenical council

Ecumenical council
An ecumenical council (or oecumenical council; also general council) is a meeting of bishops and other leaders to consider and rule on questions of Christian doctrine, administration, discipline, and other matters in which those entitled to vote are convoked from the whole world (oikoumene) and which secures the ...
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, apart from, or even against, the pope. The movement emerged in response to the Western Schism between rival popes in Rome and Avignon.

What is Conciliarism in the Catholic Church?

Conciliarism, in the Roman Catholic church, a theory that a general council of the church has greater authority than the pope and may, if necessary, depose him. ... The 15th century saw serious attempts to put the conciliar theories into practice.

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What was the aim of the conciliar movement?

Its original purpose was to heal the papal schism caused by there being two, and later three, popes at the same time (see antipope). The movement was successful, deposing or accepting the resignation of the popes concerned.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist
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James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.