First Vatican Council

**The First Vatican Council** (often called **Vatican I**) was a meeting of Catholic Church leaders (bishops and cardinals). It took place from 8 December 1869 to 20 September 1870 (in practice). Its formal ending was later, on 5 June 1960. It was called by Pope Pius IX. The council dealt with big questions about faith, modern ideas, and the Pope's role. Its most famous decision was defining papal infallibility.

## Background

As early as 1864, Pope Pius IX asked the cardinals in Rome whether a council should be held. Most were in favor.

On 29 June 1868, he officially issued a document (a papal bull) summoning the council, which opened in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on 8 December 1869.

There were early sessions to arrange business and committees.

Before it began, some invitations were sent to Eastern Orthodox and Protestant leaders, but none accepted.

The name “Vatican” is used because it met in Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

## Papal infallibility

One of the main topics was the authority of the Pope. The council addressed papal primacy (Pope as chief leader) and infallibility (the Pope being free from error in certain teachings).

Papal infallibility means: when the Pope speaks ex cathedra — that is, formally, in his role as the supreme teacher of all Christians — about faith or morals, he is preserved from error by divine help.

There was debate before and during the council about whether it was right to formally define papal infallibility at that time.

Some bishops opposed, not because they denied the idea, but because they thought it would cause problems (for example, with relations to non-Catholics or governments).

The council grouped the bishops into different camps: some strongly in favor (“active infallibilists”), others more cautious or opposed to defining it then.

## Dei Filius

“Dei Filius” is the name of one of the council's major documents (a dogmatic constitution). It was adopted 24 April 1870, with unanimous consent. The document teaches about God, revelation, faith, and how human reason relates to God's truths.  There was a small change in wording to avoid suggesting something incorrect about Anglican beliefs: the name “Holy Catholic Apostolic Roman Church” was used.

## Dei Filius

Dei Filius is one of the most important documents approved at the First Vatican Council. It was accepted on 24 April 1870 with a unanimous vote. The document explains the Catholic Church’s teachings about God, revelation, faith, and how human reason connects to religious truth. It says that people can know certain things about God through reason, but divine revelation is still necessary for full understanding of faith. Before the final vote, there was a small change in wording to avoid confusion about Anglican beliefs. Instead of referring only to the “Roman Church,” the council used the longer title “Holy Catholic Apostolic Roman Church.”

## Pastor Aeternus

Pastor Aeternus is the other major constitution from the council and deals with the power and authority of the Pope. The council decided to discuss papal infallibility before other topics, so that this issue would be settled first. Some bishops thought the Pope’s authority should be seen as working together with the bishops, but Pope Pius IX rejected this idea. He believed the Pope himself represented the tradition and teaching authority of the Church. On 13 July 1870, there was an initial vote with 451 in favor, 88 against, and 62 who agreed only under certain conditions. By the final vote on 18 July 1870, 533 voted in favor and only 2 voted against. With this, papal infallibility became official Church teaching. The document also declared that the Pope has full and supreme power over the entire Church. After the vote, several bishops who had disagreed left Rome so they would not have to sign the final document.

## Suspension and aftermath

The council had planned to continue debates on other parts (about how the Church is structured), but it was interrupted.

In 1870, the Franco-Prussian War broke out. France, which had troops protecting the Pope’s power in Rome, lost the war, and French troops left Rome.

On 20 September 1870, the Kingdom of Italy took control of Rome (except a small area around the Vatican).

On 20 October 1870, Pope Pius IX issued a bull (a formal decree) adjourning (pausing) the council indefinitely.

Some had ideas of continuing the council in Mechlin (Belgium), but it never reconvened.

Finally, in 1960, Pope John XXIII formally closed Vatican I before beginning preparations for Vatican II.

## Political effects

The new doctrine of papal infallibility made some governments uneasy about the Church’s power.

In Austria, the Concordat of 1855 (an agreement between Church and state) was annulled.

In Prussia, there was a conflict with the Catholic Church known as Kulturkampf.

In France, the Third Republic (the government) separated Church and state, ending the Concordat of 1801.

## Controversies and opposition

The doctrine of papal infallibility faced opposition in places such as the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.

One of the most prominent critics was Ignaz von Döllinger. He was excommunicated in 1871 for rejecting the council’s decision.

## Old Catholic Schism

After the First Vatican Council declared papal infallibility as official Church teaching, some clergy and lay people refused to accept the decision. Many of them were in countries like the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. They joined with the Jansenists, a group that had already separated from the Roman Catholic Church. Together, they formed what became known as the Old Catholic Church, called the Christian Catholic Church in Switzerland.

In 1889, several of these Old Catholic groups united to create the Union of Utrecht. Later, in 1931, this Union entered into full communion with the Anglican Communion through the Bonn Agreement. Today, Old Catholic Churches still exist in countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Switzerland.

A newer branch, known as the Union of Scranton, was formed in 2008. It includes the Polish National Catholic Church and the Nordic Catholic Church. These groups also reject the doctrine of papal infallibility and continue to exist separately from the Roman Catholic Church.