Council of Vézelay

The Council of Vézelay, held in 1146, was a significant gathering in medieval France where church leaders and local officials discussed and organized efforts to combat heresy, particularly the teachings of the early reform movement known as the Cathars. It aimed to strengthen church authority, promote religious uniformity, and establish measures to identify and suppress heretical beliefs. The council reflected broader efforts within the medieval Catholic Church to maintain doctrinal control and combat the spread of divergent or disruptive religious ideas in Europe.