Eugene IV
The pope who moved his council from Basel to Ferrara and then to Florence, brought the Byzantine emperor and Greek bishops to it, and issued the bull of union Laetentur caeli in 1439.
Eugene was at odds with the council sitting at Basel, which he declared transferred to Ferrara; his legate opened the sessions there in January 1438, and in February he laid church penalties on those who stayed at Basel (Council of Florence, Ferrara, sessions 1–4 (1438)). He paid for the voyage of the emperor and the Greek delegation, according to Doukas (Doukas, History 31.1 (Bekker p. 212)).
The bull of union of 6 July 1439 is issued in his name and defines, among other things, that the Roman pontiff holds the primacy over the whole world (Council of Florence, Florence, session 6 (Laetentur caeli)). See the Council of Florence Proclaims Reunion.
In the timeline
- 6 July 1439, firm dateThe Council of Florence Proclaims Reunion
Pope Eugene IV and the Byzantine emperor John VIII proclaim the reunion of the Latin and Greek churches at Florence on 6 July 1439, in a decree affirming the Filioque and papal primacy. Mark of Ephesus refuses to sign, and the union finds little acceptance in Constantinople.
Primary sources
Decrees of the Council of Ferrara and Florence
- Council of Florence, Ferrara, sessions 1–4 (1438)papalencyclicals.net
- Council of Florence, Florence, session 6 (Laetentur caeli)papalencyclicals.net
History
- Doukas, History 31.1 (Bekker p. 212)archive.org