An ecumenical council is convoked by the Pope, who possesses supreme authority in the Church, and brings together bishops from around the world to address matters of doctrine, discipline, and the Church’s life.
The Pope’s Authority
The Pope alone calls an ecumenical council into being. This is not a collegial decision or a democratic process, it flows from the papal primacy. The Pope determines the timing, location, agenda, and the formal opening and closing of the council.
The Assembly
The council is composed primarily of bishops in communion with the Pope. They are obliged to attend unless excused by the Pope for grave reasons. Other participants may include cardinals, theologians (periti), observers from other Christian communities, and representatives of religious orders. The Pope may also invite lay experts to participate in discussions.
The Purpose
Ecumenical councils are called to address significant questions facing the universal Church, whether doctrinal (defining faith), disciplinary (clarifying practice), or pastoral (responding to the needs of the faithful). The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), for example, was convoked by Pope John XXIII to address the Church’s relationship with the modern world.
The Process
The council operates through working groups and general assemblies where bishops debate, discuss, and ultimately vote on documents and decrees. These are then promulgated by the Pope, who ratifies them with his supreme authority. Without papal approval, no council’s decisions are binding on the universal Church.
Authority and Infallibility
When an ecumenical council, united with the Pope, formally teaches on matters of faith and morals, it exercises the infallibility promised by Christ to His Church (cf. Matthew 28:20; Lumen Gentium §25).
Earlier Councils and Ecumenical confirmations
Constantinople and the Ecumenical Councils 🏛️
Constantinople was the location of several early ecumenical councils, but the term “ecumenical” in their historical context meant something different than what applies today.
The Early Councils at Constantinople
Two of the seven ecumenical councils recognized by the Catholic Church were held in Constantinople:
- The First Council of Constantinople (381) – convoked by Emperor Theodosius I to address Arianism and clarify Trinitarian doctrine
- The Second Council of Constantinople (553) – convoked by Emperor Justinian I regarding the nature of Christ
The Imperial Role
Here lies the key difference: in the early Church, the Roman Emperors not the Popes convoked these councils. The Emperor Theodosius called the bishops together; the Emperor Justinian did the same. This reflects the political reality of the time: Constantinople was the imperial capital, and emperors wielded immense temporal power over ecclesiastical affairs in the Eastern Empire.
Still Ecumenical
Despite the Emperor’s convocation, these councils remain ecumenical because:
- They were attended by bishops from across the known Christian world
- They addressed universal matters of doctrine
- They were confirmed by papal authority (the Pope ratified their decrees)
The Shift
By the later councils and certainly by the modern era, the Pope alone possesses the authority to convoke an ecumenical council. The imperial model belongs to the early Christian centuries and reflects a different political order one that no longer exists.
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