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The Pope officially either directly presided over most of the [[Ecumenical council]]s of the Christian Church or he sent his personal representatives called papal [[legate]]s to act and speak in his name with his authority.

The Pope officially either directly presided over most of the [[Ecumenical council]]s of the Christian Church or he sent his personal representatives called papal [[legate]]s to act and speak in his name with his authority.

The First Ecumenical Council: [[Council of Nicaea|First Council of Nicaea]] 325, called by the Roman Emperor [[Constantine]] the Great with Pope [[Saint Sylvester I]] sitting on the Throne of Peter as the 33rd successor of Saint Peter.

====The First Ecumenical Council====

[[Council of Nicaea|First Council of Nicaea]] 325, called by the Roman Emperor [[Constantine]] the Great with Pope [[Saint Sylvester I]] sitting on the Throne of Peter as the 33rd successor of Saint Peter.

The Second Ecumenical Council: [[Constantinople I|First Council of Constantinople]] 381 convened by the Roman Emperor of the West [[Gratian]] and the Roman Emperor of the East [[Theodosius&nbsp;I]]. Neither the Holy Father Pope Saint [[Damasus I]] or his papal legates attended because of friction between him and the eastern emperor over authority. Already the split between East and West was manifesting itself. 186 bishops did attend, including [[Saint Gregory Nazianzen]] and Saint [[Cyril of Jerusalem]]. Canon 3 of this Council states: "''Because it is new Rome, the bishop of Constantinople is to enjoy the privileges of honor after the bishop of Rome.''"<ref>[http://papalencyclicals.net/Councils/ecum02.htm#3 Canon iii]</ref> Constantinople was second only to Rome. Many eastern bishops disagreed.

====The Second Ecumenical Council====

[[Constantinople I|First Council of Constantinople]] 381 convened by the Roman Emperor of the West [[Gratian]] and the Roman Emperor of the East [[Theodosius&nbsp;I]]. Neither the Holy Father Pope Saint [[Damasus I]] or his papal legates attended because of friction between him and the eastern emperor over authority. Already the split between East and West was manifesting itself. 186 bishops did attend, including [[Saint Gregory Nazianzen]] and Saint [[Cyril of Jerusalem]]. Canon 3 of this Council states: "''Because it is new Rome, the bishop of Constantinople is to enjoy the privileges of honor after the bishop of Rome.''"<ref>[http://papalencyclicals.net/Councils/ecum02.htm#3 Canon iii]</ref> Constantinople was second only to Rome. Many eastern bishops disagreed.

The Third Ecumenical Council: [[Council of Ephesus]] 431 called by the Roman Emperor of the East Theodosius II, influenced by his saintly sister [[Saint Pulcheria]], in harmony with Pope [[Saint Celestine I]].

====The Third Ecumenical Council====

[[Council of Ephesus]] 431 called by the Roman Emperor of the East Theodosius II, influenced by his saintly sister [[Saint Pulcheria]], in harmony with Pope [[Saint Celestine I]].

The Fourth Ecumenical Council: [[Council of Chalcedon]] 451 called by the Roman Emperor of the East [[Marcian]], influenced by his wife Saint Pulcheria, in coordination with Pope [[Saint Leo the Great]].

====The Fourth Ecumenical Council====

[[Council of Chalcedon]] 451 called by the Roman Emperor of the East [[Marcian]], influenced by his wife Saint Pulcheria, in coordination with Pope [[Saint Leo the Great]].

The Fifth Ecumenical Council: [[Constantinople II|Second Council of Constantinople]] 553 summoned by The Emperor [[Justinian]] and Pope [[Vigilius]]. The Roman pontiff refused to take part in the council, because Justinian had summoned bishops in equal numbers from each of the five patriarchal sees, so that there would be many more eastern than western bishops present, and [[Eutychius]], patriarch of Constantinople, presided.  

====The Fifth Ecumenical Council====

[[Constantinople II|Second Council of Constantinople]] 553 summoned by The Emperor [[Justinian]] and Pope [[Vigilius]]. The Roman pontiff refused to take part in the council, because Justinian had summoned bishops in equal numbers from each of the five patriarchal sees, so that there would be many more eastern than western bishops present, and [[Eutychius]], patriarch of Constantinople, presided.  

The Sixth Ecumenical Council: [[Constantinople III|Third Council of Constantinople]] 680-681 called by the Emperor [[Constantine IV]] in agreement with Pope [[Saint Agatho]], in light of the growing threat of [[Islam]]ism. The Council was convened with over 200 bishops.

====The Sixth Ecumenical Council====

[[Constantinople III|Third Council of Constantinople]] 680-681 called by the Emperor [[Constantine IV]] in agreement with Pope [[Saint Agatho]], in light of the growing threat of [[Islam]]ism. The Council was convened with over 200 bishops.

The Seventh Ecumenical Council: [[Nicaea II|Second Council of Nicaea]] 787 was called by the orthodox catholic Christian [[Empress Irene]], widow of the late Emperor Leo IV and mother of the Emperor Constantine IV, to quell the growing violent unrest against those Eastern Bishops who were spreading the heresy of [[Iconoclasm]] supported by [[Emperor Leo III]], who had been fiercely condemned by Pope [[Hadrian I]], as well as by his predecessors Popes [[Gregory II]] and Pope [[Gregory III]].  

====The Seventh Ecumenical Council====

[[Nicaea II|Second Council of Nicaea]] 787 was called by the orthodox catholic Christian [[Empress Irene]], widow of the late Emperor Leo IV and mother of the Emperor Constantine IV, to quell the growing violent unrest against those Eastern Bishops who were spreading the heresy of [[Iconoclasm]] supported by [[Emperor Leo III]], who had been fiercely condemned by Pope [[Hadrian I]], as well as by his predecessors Popes [[Gregory II]] and Pope [[Gregory III]].  

The Eighth Ecumenical Council: [[Constantinople IV|Fourth Council of Constantinople]] 869-870 was called jointly by the [[Emperor Basil]] and Pope [[Hadrian II]] to deal with the paramount issue of declaring the Patriarch [[Photius]] a heretic for openly criticizing clerical [[celibacy]], for challenging Pope Saint Leo III's crowning of [[Charlemagne]] as Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas of 800, and for questioning the ''[[Filioque]]'' of the [[Apostles' Creed]].  

====The Eighth Ecumenical Council====

[[Constantinople IV|Fourth Council of Constantinople]] 869-870 was called jointly by the [[Emperor Basil]] and Pope [[Hadrian II]] to deal with the paramount issue of declaring the Patriarch [[Photius]] a heretic for openly criticizing clerical [[celibacy]], for challenging Pope Saint Leo III's crowning of [[Charlemagne]] as Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas of 800, and for questioning the ''[[Filioque]]'' of the [[Apostles' Creed]]. This Council is not recognized as legitimate by those churches of the east not in communion with Rome.

===Late Middle Ages: 1000-1500===

===Late Middle Ages: 1000-1500===