The Council of Basel refers to an ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church held between 1431 and 1449 in Basel, Switzerland. This council marks a significant period of Catholic history and played a crucial role in shaping the Church's policies and doctrines during the fifteenth century.
The Council of Basel was convened with the primary aim of healing the Western Schism, a division within the Catholic Church that had resulted in the presence of multiple competing popes. The council sought to resolve this schism and reestablish unity under a single papal authority. Alongside this, it aimed to address other pressing issues such as church reform, addressing corruption within the clergy, and promoting the authority of general councils over papal power.
During its sessions, the Council of Basel made several significant decisions and issued numerous decrees. Notably, it asserted the supreme authority of ecumenical councils over the Pope, which was a controversial stance at the time. It also sought to implement various church reforms, including the reduction of papal powers and the promotion of conciliarism, the belief that general councils should have more authority than the Pope.
Despite its initial successes, the Council of Basel was marred by internal disputes and disagreements. Eventually, it split into two factions known as the Council of Basel-Ferrara-Florence and the Council of Basel-Lausanne. These divisions weakened the council's authority and limited its ability to achieve its original objectives.
In conclusion, the Council of Basel was an ecumenical council of the Catholic Church held in the fifteenth century. It aimed to reunify the Church, address corruption, and assert the authority of general councils. While it achieved some progress, it was ultimately unable to fully resolve all the issues it sought to address.
