Conciliar movement facts for kids

The Conciliar Movement was a big idea in the Catholic Church during the 1300s and 1400s. It was a reform movement that suggested that the final authority in the Church should belong to a general council of Christians, not just the Pope. This movement happened mostly in Western Europe.

This idea was first brought up by people like Pope Innocent III, and some of its principles are still seen in parts of the Church today.

What Was the Conciliar Movement?

The Conciliar Movement was a time when many people in the Catholic Church believed that a large meeting of bishops and other important church leaders, called a "general council," should have the highest power. They thought this council should be able to make big decisions, and even correct or remove a Pope if needed. This was a very different idea from the traditional belief that the Pope had the ultimate authority.

Why Did the Movement Start?

The Conciliar Movement grew strong because of a big problem in the Church called the Western Schism. This was a period from 1378 to 1417 when there were two, and sometimes even three, different Popes, each claiming to be the true leader. This caused a lot of confusion and division among Christians. People didn't know who to follow, and it made the Church look weak.

The Western Schism

Imagine having two different school principals at the same time, both saying they are in charge! That's kind of what happened during the Western Schism. One Pope lived in Rome, and another lived in Avignon, France. Later, a third Pope was elected, making things even more complicated. This situation made many people think that a council was the only way to fix the mess and bring unity back to the Church.

Key Councils of the Movement

Several important church councils were held during this time to try and solve the problems and discuss the idea of conciliarism.

The Council of Pisa

The first big attempt to fix the Western Schism was the Council of Pisa in 1409. The cardinals tried to solve the problem by electing a new Pope, hoping he would replace the two existing ones. However, this plan backfired! Instead of two Popes, there were now three, making the situation even worse. This showed that simply electing a new Pope wasn't enough.

The Council of Constance

The most important council for the Conciliar Movement was the Council of Constance, held from 1414 to 1418. This council was a huge meeting with thousands of people, including bishops, kings, and nobles. Its main goals were to end the Western Schism, deal with new religious ideas, and reform the Church.

Ending the Schism

The Council of Constance successfully ended the Western Schism. It managed to get rid of all three Popes and then elected a new, single Pope, Pope Martin V, in 1417. This brought unity back to the Church after nearly 40 years of division. This was a major victory for the idea that a council could have the power to fix such a big problem.

The Haec Sancta Decree

During the Council of Constance, a very important document called Haec Sancta was issued in 1415. This decree stated that a general council gets its power directly from Jesus Christ. It also said that everyone, including the Pope, must obey the council in matters of faith, ending the schism, and reforming the Church. This was the strongest statement of conciliarism.

The Council of Basel

After Constance, another important council was the Council of Basel, which met from 1431 to 1449. This council tried to continue the reforms started at Constance. However, it ended up having disagreements with the Pope of that time, Pope Eugene IV. This led to another smaller schism, showing that the idea of councils having more power than the Pope was still a difficult one to agree on.

Decline of the Movement

Even though the Conciliar Movement had some success, especially at the Council of Constance, it eventually lost its strength. The Popes after the Western Schism worked hard to bring power back to the papacy. They argued that the Pope was the direct successor of Saint Peter and therefore had ultimate authority.

The Popes also became very skilled at diplomacy and forming alliances with kings and rulers. This helped them regain their influence. Over time, the idea that a council was superior to the Pope faded away, and the Pope's authority became stronger again.

Legacy of Conciliarism

While the Conciliar Movement didn't permanently change the structure of the Catholic Church to be run by councils, it left an important mark. It showed that there was a strong desire for reform within the Church. It also highlighted the importance of councils in dealing with major crises. Even today, general councils, like the Second Vatican Council in the 20th century, play a significant role in the Catholic Church, though they operate under the authority of the Pope.