Lateran Councils

The Lateran Councils are important gatherings in the history of the Catholic Church, held at the Lateran Palace in Rome. The most notable are the First Lateran Council in 1123 and the Fourth in 1215. These councils addressed key issues like church reforms, administrative matters, and doctrinal clarifications. For example, the Fourth Council affirmed essential beliefs, such as the nature of the Eucharist and the need for confession. These gatherings helped shape Catholic doctrine and governance, reinforcing the church’s authority and guiding its role in medieval society.