The General Council of Basel-Ferrara-Florence
The Fruit of the Franciscans, 1431-45 A.D.
Pope Martin V was not a huge fan of General Councils, but due to the edict laid out at the previous General Council of Constance, he was pressured by the bishops to follow the new guideline of regular General Councils. He planned and prepared for the General Council of Basel-Ferrara-Florence with great disdain, but died literally as it was about to begin. Eugene IV was his successor and would prove to be a great diplomat.
The Primacy of the Pope Versus the Primacy of the General Councils
Although Pope Eugene IV tried to hold onto the power of the papacy during this lengthy council, which lasted well over a decade, one of the first things that the General Council made sure to define was the power of the Pope. Their first definition to arise was that the General Councils has primacy over the Pope and it was the General Councils which were infallible. This would be changed in a later council, but for the moment, that’s how it stood.
The Incredible Effect of the Franciscan Order around the World
The great beauty which occurred at the General Council of Basel-Ferrara-Florence was the reuniting of so many different heretical sects of Christianity. Patriarchs and representatives of Patriarchs of many previously defined heresies which had continued since the councils had condemned them, came forth and asked to be reunified under the Papal Seal. This was due to the profound missionary work of the Franciscans, and it was no less than a miracle.
The Greeks had been divided and took the most time to reconcile, but eventually came to the conclusion that they were in unity with the Roman Latin Rite in belief and tradition. But the really astounding attendants were representatives of the Monophysites, the Emperor of the Ethiopians, the Emperor of the Indians, the Abyssinian monks, the Copts and most surprisingly the remnants of Nestorianism, the Chaldeans and the Maronites.
They all came to the General Council with letters asking to be reinstated in unity with the Holy Roman Catholic Church. It was astounding what the fruits of the Franciscan Missionaries had become.
Another heretical group, the Baselites, did not wish to make amends and were therefore excommunicated by Pope Eugene IV.
When Eugene IV passed while the council was still in session, a move was made to elect a new Pope immediately. But because of a lack of bishop’s presence, the ability to provide a legal election became problematic. Eugene IV’s successor was first a layman who took upon himself the name of Felix. It was the emperor who interceded saying this election was farcical and Nicholas V was named. Felix willingly gave up his post as he was already fed up with the difficult business of dealing with cash in the Church.
Nicholas V was said to be a scholar who became a very humanistic and princely Pope, generous to those who had falsely come before him. He made Felix a Cardinal and restored him a pension. To the president of the council who had originally named Felix as Eugene IV’s successor, he gave an Episcopal Consecration. His actions united the church and helped bring about an end to a lengthy but fruitful General Council at Basel-Ferraras-Florence.
The General Council of Constance, 1414-1418 A.D.
The Fifth General Council of the Lateran, 1512 – 1517 A.D.
Sources: The Church in Crisis: A History of the General Councils, 325 – 1870 – By Philip Hughes, The General Councils: A History of the Twenty-One Church Councils from Nicaea to Vatican II – By Christopher M. Bellito, The Documents of Vatican II – By Walter M. Abbott, S.J. and the Very Reverend Monsignor Joseph Gallagher, A Short History of Christian Doctrine: From the First Century to the Present – By Bernard Lohse, The Reform of the Liturgy – Annibale Bugnini, www.catholicdigitalstudio.com/councils.htm
Image from the times of Basel-Ferrara-Florence
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