Ecumenical Councils

[NFrancis]

Aren’t ecumenical councils gatherings of all the worlds bishops. If this is true then how are the councils ecumenical when the Orthodox bishops are not there? I don’t think I completely understand the concept.

 

[clmowry]

Aren’t ecumenical councils gatherings of all the worlds bishops. If this is true then how are the councils ecumenical when the Orthodox bishops are not there? I don’t think I completely understand the concept.

The presence of “all” bishops [particularly those in schism with the Church] is not required to make a council ecumenical.

If this were the case then I’d imagine there would be no such thing s an “ecumenical” council. i.e. Was each and every bishop ever at any council?

It is the action of the pope that makes a council ecumenical [though I’d imagine our orthodox brothers and sisters would argue your case rather vehemently].

Chuck

 

[DavidFilmer]

Aren’t ecumenical councils gatherings of all the worlds bishops.

No. An Ecumenical Council is any Council that the Church declares ecumenical. The Council itself can make this declaration. For example, Constantinople 3 was convoked as a provincial council, comprised mostly of bishops from Constantinople. However, early on, the council declared itself to be ecumenical, which was accepted by the Pope.

Though desirable, it is not necessary to have even a majority of Bishops.

 

[TheDoctor]

It is the action of the pope that makes a council ecumenical [though I’d imagine our orthodox brothers and sisters would argue your case rather vehemently]

By perhaps pointing to all the ecumenical councils they have had since we split?

 

[Vince1022]

Aren’t ecumenical councils gatherings of all the worlds bishops. If this is true then how are the councils ecumenical when the Orthodox bishops are not there? I don’t think I completely understand the concept.

Orthodox bishops are not (unfortunately) considered Catholic Bishops. The Catholic Church understands “ecumenical councils” to be gathers of Catholic Bishops, regardless of whether Orthodox bishops are present.