Council of Constance

Definition

The Council of Constance was an ecumenical council held from 1414 to 1418 in the city of Constance, Germany, aimed at resolving the Great Western Schism and addressing various issues of church reform. This significant assembly sought to end the division within the Catholic Church by deposing or reconciling the competing popes, ultimately electing Pope Martin V and reaffirming the supremacy of the council over the papacy.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Council of Constance was convened by Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund and aimed to address both the schism and calls for church reform.
2. During this council, Pope John XXIII was deposed, while Gregory XII abdicated, leaving Benedict XIII as the only rival pope who refused to resign.
3. The council's decisions led to significant changes in church governance, emphasizing the authority of ecumenical councils over individual popes.
4. The Council of Constance also addressed issues like heresy and ecclesiastical corruption, furthering discussions about church reform.
5. The successful election of Pope Martin V established a single papal authority and helped restore stability within the Catholic Church.

Review Questions

• How did the Council of Constance aim to resolve the issues presented by the Great Western Schism?
  • The Council of Constance aimed to resolve the Great Western Schism by bringing together representatives from across Christendom to address the legitimacy of competing popes. By deposing Pope John XXIII and persuading Pope Gregory XII to resign, the council effectively sought to unify the church under one leader. The assembly's ultimate success came with the election of Pope Martin V, which restored a singular papal authority and helped heal divisions within Christianity.
• Discuss the impact of the Council of Constance on the concept of papal supremacy within the Catholic Church.
  • The Council of Constance significantly impacted papal supremacy by asserting that ecumenical councils hold authority over individual popes. This idea challenged traditional views that placed popes at the top of church hierarchy without question. By reinforcing the power of councils in resolving disputes and promoting reforms, it set a precedent for future interactions between papal authority and church governance.
• Evaluate how the decisions made at the Council of Constance influenced later movements for reform within Christianity and their broader implications.
  • The decisions made at the Council of Constance had lasting effects on subsequent reform movements within Christianity, including those leading up to and during the Protestant Reformation. By addressing corruption and heresy while emphasizing council authority, it laid groundwork for later critiques of papal power. The challenges faced by ecclesiastical authorities during this period revealed underlying tensions within Christendom that would ultimately contribute to significant religious upheavals in Europe.

Related terms

Great Western Schism:

A split within the Catholic Church from 1378 to 1417, during which multiple individuals claimed to be the true pope, leading to significant political and spiritual turmoil.

Papal Supremacy: The doctrine that the pope has ultimate authority over the entire Christian Church, which was challenged during the events leading up to and during the Council of Constance.

Pope Martin V: Elected at the conclusion of the Council of Constance, Pope Martin V was recognized as the sole legitimate pope, marking the end of the Great Western Schism.