1179–1179 · Rome
Third Lateran Council
Why this council matters
Lateran III followed prolonged conflict involving the papacy, the empire and rival papal claimants. Its election rule sought to reduce the danger of further schism by specifying the majority needed for a papal election.
Other canons addressed Church offices, education and conduct. This makes the council useful for seeing the difference between the Church’s teaching on authority and the legal arrangements used to exercise it. Later law and historical circumstances must be considered before applying its regulations directly to modern practice.
Read and investigate
The canons are currently available through an external primary edition.
Controversies
The aftermath of papal schism, election procedure and reform.
Decrees
Required a two-thirds majority for papal elections and issued reform canons.
Definitions
Papal election procedure is ecclesiastical law, distinct from the doctrine of the papal office.