1215 AD
+
Fourth Lateran Council
Historical Overview
The greatest council of the medieval Church. Defines transubstantiation. Mandates annual Confession and Communion.
Deep Dive
Convened by Pope Innocent III, the Fourth Lateran Council was the zenith of the medieval papacy's influence. It issued 70 decrees that shaped Catholic life for centuries. It officially adopted the term 'transubstantiation' to explain the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. It also instituted the precept that every Catholic must confess their sins and receive Holy Communion at least once a year during the Easter season. Additionally, it addressed the Albigensian heresy and laid out procedures for ecclesiastical discipline and inquisitions.