SESSION 1

10 May 1512

[The bull convoking the council, Sacrosancta Romanae Ecclesiae, and the bulls postponing it, Inscrutabilis and Romanus pontifex, are read out1{Msi 32, 681-690}. Masses are ordered to be celebrated, and prayers to be offered, to beg God’s assistance; various arrangements are to be observed in the council and decrees are set out; advocates, procurators, notaries, guards and vote-scrutineers are chosen; assigners of places, and the location of places in their due order, are established.]

SESSION 2

17 May 1512

[The quasi-council of Pisa is condemned, and everything done at it is declared null and void. The [Fourth] Lateran council and whatever has been rightly done at it are confirmed]

Julius, bishop, servant of the servants of God, with the approval of the sacred council, for an everlasting record. We intend, with the help of the most High, to proceed with the holding of this sacred Lateran council which has now begun for the praise of God, the peace of the whole church, the union of the faithful the overthrow of heresies and schisms, the reform of morals, and the campaign against the dangerous enemies of the faith, so that the mouths of all schismatics and enemies of peace, those howling dogs, may be silenced and Christians may be able to keep themselves unstained from such pernicious and poisonous contagion.

Iulius episcopus servus servorum dei ad perpetuam rei memoriam sacro approbante concilio. Cum inchoatam huius sacri Lateranensis concilii celebrationem ad dei laudem universalis ecclesiae pacem fidelium unionem schismatis et haeresum eversionem morum reformationem ac contra perfidos fidei hostes expeditionem altissimi dextera assistente prosequi intendamus ut omnium schismaticorum et pacis hostium latrantium canum ora obtundantur universi que christi fideles valeant a tam pestifero et venenoso contagio

Accordingly, in this second session lawfully assembled in the holy Spirit, after mature deliberation held by us with our venerable brothers, the cardinals of the holy Roman church, by the advice and unanimous consent of the same brothers from sure knowledge and by the fullness of apostolic power, we confirm approve and renew, with the approval of the sacred council, the rejections condemnations, revocations, quashings, invalidations and annulments of the summoning, convoking and public utterances of that schismatical assembly, the vaunted quasi-council of Pisa, with its aim of rending and hampering the union of the aforesaid church, and of the citations, warnings, decrees, pardons, sentences, acts, legacies, creations, obediences, withdrawals, enjoined censures and applications issuing from it, and of the transfer of the said quasi-council to the cities of Milan or Vercellae or any other place, and of each and all of the acts and decisions of the said quasi-council, that have been expressed in our various letters completed and issued in due order, especially those issued under the dates of 18 July in the eighth year of our pontificate, and of 3 December and 13 April in the ninth year of our pontificate. Likewise we confirm, approve and renew with the approval of the sacred council, the letters themselves along with their decrees, declarations, prohibitions, commands, exhortations, warnings, applications of ecclesiastical interdicts, and other sentences, censures and penalties, whether by canonical sanctions or by our own act, especially those in the letter summoning this sacred universal council, and each and all of the other clauses contained in the said letters, the meanings of which we wish to be considered as expressed as if they were inserted herein word for word, even though, as being definite and valid, they require no other confirmation or approval for a more extensive guarantee and demonstration of the truth. We wish, decree and ordain that they be observed without alteration, and we make good each and all of the defects in them, should there be any.

se immaculatos servare in hac praesenti secunda sessione in spiritu sancto legitime congregata indictionis convocationis et publicationis schismaticae conventiculae et asserti conciliabuli Pisani ad scindendum et scandalizandum ecclesiae praefatae unionem emanatarum citationum monitionum decretorum absolutionum sententiarum actorum legatorum creationum obedientiarum subtractionum assertarum censurarum appositionum ipsius que conciliabuli translationis ad Mediolanum vel Vercellensem civitates aut alia loca quaecumque omnium que et singulorum in dicto conciliabulo gestorum et conclusorum reprobationes damnationes revocationes cassationes irritationes et annullationes per nos habita cum venerabilibus fratribus nostris sanctae Romanae ecclesiae cardinalibus deliberatione matura et de eorumdem fratrum consilio et unanimi consensu ac ex certa scientia et de apostolicae potestatis plenitudine per diversas nostras literas respective praesertim sub data quintodecimo kalendas augusti pontificatus nostri anno octavo ac tertio nonas decembris et idibus aprilis eiusdem pontificatus anno nono editas factas et emanatas literas que ipsas cum decretis declarationibus inhibitionibus mandatis hortationibus monitionibus interdictorum ecclesiasticorum appositionibus et aliis sententiis censuris et poenis tam a canonicis sanctionibus quam a nobis maxime in literis indictionis huius sacri universalis concilii ac omnibus et singulis aliis clausulis in dictis literis contentis quarum tenores ac si de verbo ad verbum praesentibus insererentur pro expressis haberi volumus licet ut firma et valida nulla alia confirmatione aut approbatione egerent ad abundantiorem cautelam et veritatis manifestationem hoc sacro approbante concilio confirmamus approbamus et innovamus illa que inviolabiliter observari volumus statuimus et ordinamus supplentes omnes et singulos defectus si qui forsan intervenerint in eisdem.

We condemn and reject the aforesaid quasi-council and its transfer, and each and every thing done by it, and also those taking part in it or giving support, approval or consent, directly or indirectly, to whatever extent and in whatever manner, from the day of the summoning of the quasi-council until the present day, whether the things have already been done or are to be done in the future, even if they are or have been such that special, specific, definite and separate mention should be made about them, since we consider their meaning and characteristics as clearly expressed. We condemn and reject it like other counterfeit councils which diverge from the truth and whose acts have been condemned and rejected by the law and sacred canons. We proclaim these things to be null, void and empty, as indeed they are, to be or to have been of no force or Importance; and, so far as is necessary, we declare them void, invalid and null, and we wish them to be considered as void, invalid and null.

Nec non conciliabulum praefatum illius que translationem ac omnia et singula per ipsum conciliabulum illi que assistentes adhaerentes fautores et consentientes directe vel indirecte quomodocumque et qualitercumque a die indictionis ipsius conciliabuli usque in praesentem diem acta facta gesta et prolata ac in posterum gerenda agenda facienda et proferenda etiamsi talia sint vel fuerint de quibus specialis specifica expressa ac individua mentio habenda foret illorum tenores et qualitates etiam pro expressis habentes ut alia adulterina et a veritate deviantia concilia et in eis gesta a iure sacris que canonibus damnata et reprobata fuerunt damnamus et reprobamus ac prout sunt nulla irrita et inania nullius que roboris vel momenti fuisse et esse nuntiamus et quatenus opus sit cassamus irritamus et annullamus ac pro cassis irritis et annullatis haberi volumus.

We decree and declare, with the approval of this same sacred council, that this sacred ecumenical council, justly, reasonably, and for true and lawful purposes duly and rightly summoned, has begun to be celebrated, and that each and every thing which has been and shall be done and executed in it, will be just, reasonable, settled and valid, and that it possesses and holds the same strength, power, authority and stability which other general councils approved by the sacred canons, especially the Lateran council, possess and hold.

Et nihilo minus hoc sacrum concilium oecumenicum iuste rationabiliter ac ex veris et legitimis causis rite que et recte indictum celebrari inceptum omnia que et singula quae in eo facta et gesta sunt et de cetero fient ac gerentur iusta rationabilia firma et valida fore ac idem robur eamdem que vim potestatem auctoritatem et firmitatem habere et obtinere quae alia concilia generalia praesertim Lateranense a sacris canonibus approbata habent et obtinent hoc eodem sacro concilio approbante decernimus et declaramus.

Moreover, in the arrangement of the seasons, as the summer heats approach, in order to take account of the convenience and health of the prelates, and so that those may be awaited who live beyond the mountains and across the sea and who have hitherto been unable to come to this sacred council, and for other just and reasonable causes known to and approved by the said sacred council, we are summoning the third session of this same council to take place on 3 November next, with the said council likewise giving approval.

Insuper que temporum dispositione aestivis que caloribus instantibus ut commoditati et valetudini praelatorum consulatur ultramontani que et trans mare existentes qui hactenus ad hoc sacrum concilium venire non potuerunt expectentur propter que alias iustas et rationabiles causas praefato sacro concilio notas et ab eo approbatas tertiam sessionem continuationis celebrationis concilii praefati tertio nonas novembris proxime futuri faciendam hoc praefato sacro concilio similiter approbante indicimus.

And to each and every prelate and to others present at the same council, we grant and concede the freedom and permission to withdraw from the Roman curia and to stay wherever they wish, so long as they are present at the aforesaid Lateran council on the said 3 November, any clearly legitimate hindrance having been removed, subject to the infliction of the penalties indicated in the letter summoning the council and in canonical punishments against those failing to attend to councils, the said sacred council also approving. Let nobody therefore... If anyone however...2

Omnibus que et singulis praelatis et aliis in eodem concilio tunc existentibus a Romana curia recedendi et pro eorum voluntate ubi eis placuerit morandi dummodo dicta tertio nonas novembris in praefato concilio Lateranensi cessante legitimo impedimento de quo clare constet sub poenarum in literis indictionis ipsius concilii et canonicis sanctionibus contra non accedentes ad concilia indictarum incursu praesentes existant licentiam et facultatem praefato sacro concilio etiam approbante concedimus et indulgimus.

Nulli ergo....

Si quis autem....

{2 At this session, on account of the arrival of the bishop of Gurk, representative of the most serene emperor, a postponement of the third session was made until 3 November.}

SESSION 3

3 December 1512

[Each and all of the measures sponsored by the schismatic cardinals are rejected]

Julius, bishop, servant of the servants of God, with the approval of the sacred council, for an everlasting record. To the praise and glory of him whose works are perfect, we are continuing the sacred council of the Lateran, lawfully assembled by favour of the holy Spirit, in this third session. We had summoned this session on another occasion, during the second session, for the third day of the following November. Later, by the advice and unanimous agreement of our venerable brothers, cardinals of the holy Roman church, for reasons then stated and for other lawful causes, we postponed it and summoned it to be held today, with the same sacred council giving approval to both the postponement and the summons for the said reasons which were known to it. This was after the happy and favourable adherence to, and union with, this most holy Lateran council on the part of our most dear son in Christ, Maximilian, ever revered emperor-elect of the Romans

Iulius episcopus servus servorum dei ad perpetuam rei memoriam sacro approbante concilio.

Ad illius cuius perfecta sunt opera laudem et gloriam sacrum Lateranense concilium prosequentes in hac tertia sessione spiritu sancto favente legitime congregata quam alias tertio nonas novembris proxime praeteriti faciendam in secunda sessione indixeramus et deinde de venerabilium fratrum nostrorum sanctae Romanae ecclesiae cardinalium consilio unanimi que assensu in hodiernum diem tenendam ex certis tunc expressis et aliis legitimis causis prorogavimus et indiximus eodem sacro concilio prorogationem et indictionem huiusmodi ex causis praefatis sibi notis approbante post felicem faustam que carissimi in christo filii nostri Maximiliani Romanorum imperatoris electi semper augusti huic sacrosancto Lateranensi concilio veram adhaesionem et sinceram unionem

We condemn, reject and detest, with the approval of this same sacred council, each and every thing done by those sons of damnation, Bernard Carvajal, Guillaume Briconnet, Rene de Prie, and Frederick of San Severino, formerly cardinals, and their supporters, adherents, accomplices and disciples -- who are schismatics and heretics and have worked madly to their own and others’ ruin, aiming to split asunder the unity of holy mother church at the quasi-council held at Pisa, Milan, Lyons and elsewhere -- whatever the things were in number and kind that have been enacted, carried out, done, written, published or ordained up to the present day, including the imposition of taxes carried out by them throughout the kingdom of France, or shall be done in the future. Even though they are indeed null, useless and void and have already been condemned and rejected by us with the approval of the aforesaid sacred council, we nevertheless retain this present condemnation and rejection for the sake of greater precaution. We wish the meaning and characteristics of the things done, or to be done, to be considered as expressed herein word for word and not just by general clauses. We decree and declare them to be and to have been null, without purpose and void, of no force, efficacy, effect or importance.

omnia et singula per damnationis alumnos Bernardinum Carvaial Guillelmum Brizonet Renatum de Pria et Fridericum de sancto Severino olim cardinales eorum que fautores adhaerentes complices et sequaces schismaticos haereticos et in suam ac aliorum perniciem debacchantes unitatem sanctae matris ecclesiae scindere satagentes in conciliabulo Pisano Mediolani Lugduni vel alibi quaecumque quotcumque et qualiacumque fuerint etiam decimarum impositiones in universo regno Franciae per eos factas quorum tenores et qualitates ac si praesentibus de verbo ad verbum non autem per clausulas generales insererentur pro expressis haberi volumus usque in praesentem diem acta gesta et facta conscripta et publicata seu ordinata et in futurum forsitan gerenda quamvis sint nulla irrita et inania et a nobis praefato concilio sacro approbante damnata et reprobata fuerint potiori pro cautela damnationi et reprobationi huiusmodi inhaerendo eodem sacro concilio approbante damnamus reprobamus et detestamur illa que nulla irrita et inania nullius que roboris efficaciae effectus vel momenti fuisse et esse decernimus et declaramus.

We renew our letter dated 13 August 1512, at St Peter’s, Rome, in the ninth year of our pontificate, by which, on the advice of the Dominicans, on account of the support, favours, sustenance and help notoriously provided to schismatics and heretics in the promotion of the said condemned and rejected quasicouncil of Pisa, by the king of France and not a few other prelates, officials, nobles and barons of the kingdom of France, we placed under ecclesiastical interdict the kingdom of France and particularly Lyons, excepting the duchy of Brittany, and we forbade the customary fairs of Lyons to be held in that city and we transferred them to the city of Geneva. We also renew the decrees, declarations, prohibitions and every clause contained in the letter, the said sacred council likewise having full information about them and giving its approval. As stated, we subject the aforesaid kingdom and its cities, lands, towns and any other territories to this interdict, and we transfer the fairs from Lyons to the said city of Geneva.

Nec non literas nostras per quas propter receptiones favores adhaerentiam et auxilium per regem Franciae et nonnullos alios regni Franciae praelatos officiales nobiles et barones schismaticis et haereticis in dicti conciliabuli Pisani damnati et reprobati prosecutione notorie praestita regnum Franciae et praesertim Lugdunum ducatu Britanniae excepto sub data videlicet Romae apud sanctum Petrum anno incarnationis dominicae millesimo quingentesimo duodecimo idus augusti pontificatus nostri anno nono de fratrum praedictorum consilio ecclesiastico subiecimus interdicto nundinas que Lugduni fieri solitas in Lugduno extunc de cetero fieri inhibuimus dictas que nundinas in civitate Gebennensi faciendas transtulimus cum decretis declarationibus inhibitionibus omnibus que et singulis in eis contentis clausulis similiter sacro concilio praedicto de illis plenariam notitiam habente ac approbante innovamus regnum que praefatum ut praefertur illius que civitates terras oppida et loca quaecumque huiusmodi interdicto subiicimus ac ipsas nundinas ex Lugduno in civitatem praefatam Gebennensem faciendas transferimus.

In order that this sacred Lateran council may be brought to a fruitful and beneficial conclusion, and that the many other serious matters due for treatment and discussion in the council may proceed to the praise of almighty God and the exaltation of the universal church, we declare, with the full approval of the said sacred council, that the fourth session of the continuing celebration of the council shall be held on the tenth day of the present month of December. Let nobody therefore... If anyone however...

Et ut sacrum hoc Lateranense concilium ad finem uberrimae fertilitatis deducatur alia que plura et gravia in hoc sacro Lateranensi concilio tractanda et discutienda veniant ad dei omnipotentis laudem et ecclesiae universalis exaltationem quartam sessionem continuationis celebrationis ipsius quarto idus praesentis mensis decembris faciendam sacro concilio praefato omnia approbante indicimus.

Nulli ergo....

Si quis autem....

SESSION 4

10 December 1512

[The Pragmatic is revoked and the acts of the quasi-council of Pisa regarding the same are annulled1{Before this constitution, in the same session, there was also read out: A warning against the Pragmatic and its supporters}

Julius, bishop, servant of the servants of God, with the approval of the sacred council, for an everlasting record. Giving close attention by paternal and earnest consideration to the safety of the flock entrusted to us from above, to the reform of morals and the defence of the church’s liberty, and to the peace and development of the catholic faith, we approve and renew, with the approval of this holy council, for the praise and glory of almighty God and the undivided Trinity, the letter recently issued by us, of which the same council is aware, by which we made a general reform of the Roman curia’s officials and of their imposts. We ordered the letter to be made public by certain persons, who were afterwards designated, for the benefit of the faithful, and in accordance with our wishes. We now order it to be made public in detail by the said designated persons together with other prelates from various nations who are present in the aforesaid council and are to be appointed. Everything that can pervert human judgment is to cease, as is right and fitting. We order, moreover, that the declarations are to be referred to us in other sessions of this sacred council and are to be approved by the same council, in order that they may be duly carried out.

Iulius episcopus servus servorum dei ad perpetuam rei memoriam sacro approbante concilio.

Saluti gregis nobis desuper commissi morum reformationi defensioni que ecclesiasticae libertatis ac fidei catholicae tranquillitati et augmento paternis et solicitis studiis intendentes ad omnipotentis dei et individuae trinitatis laudem et gloriam sacro hoc approbante concilio literas nostras a nobis dudum emanatas eidem concilio notas per quas Romanae curiae officiales et illorum exactiones generaliter reformavimus approbamus et innovamus illas que quas per nonnullos postea tunc expressos ad fidelium utilitatem iuxta intentionem nostram declarari mandavimus per praefatos expressos et cum illis alios diversarum nationum praelatos nunc in praefato concilio praesentes deputandos omnibus quae iudicium humanum pervertere possent cessantibus ut iustum et aequum fuerit particulariter declarari et declarationes ipsas in aliis sessionibus nobis in hoc sacro concilio referendas et ab eodem concilio approbandas ut debite exequantur praecipimus et mandamus.

Moreover, for considerable periods of time there has been great disparagement of the apostolic see and of the head, the liberty and the authority of the holy Roman universal church, as well as a limitation of the sacred canons, by a number of prelates of the French nation and by noble laymen and others supporting them, especially under pretext of a certain sanction which they call the Pragmatic{2 This Pragmatic Sanction had been promulgated by king Charles VII of France at Bourges on 7 July 1438, with the aim of removing abuses in the church, see DThC 12/2 (1935) 2780-2786, DDrC 7 (1958) 109-113, and NCE 11 (1967) 662-663}.

Insuper cum iam per multa temporum spatia per nonnullos praelatos Gallicae nationis et nobiles laicos ac alios illis faventes praesertim cuiusdam sanctionis praetextu quam ipsi pragmaticam vocant apostolicae sedi sanctae que Romanae universalis ecclesiae capiti libertati et auctoritati enormiter detractum sacris que canonibus

We do not wish to endure further a thing so pernicious and offensive to God, a clear cheapening of and damage to the said church. For it is only in those regions that the sanction, carried out by those lacking all lawful power for that end and without the authority of popes or legitimate general councils, has been introduced and observed by way of an abuse. It must be rightly, along with its contents, be declared null and void and be repealed. Louis XI, king of France, of distinguished memory, repealed this sanction, as is clearly contained in his letters patent already made.

derogatum fuerit nos rem adeo perniciosam in dei offensam et ecclesiae praefatae vilipendium et evidens detrimentum amplius ferre nequeuntes cum sanctio ipsa ab omni ad id legitima potestate carentibus nullorum que summorum pontificum aut generalium legitimorum conciliorum auctoritate facta sed quodam abusu tantum in illis partibus introducta et observata fuerit illa que cum in ea contentis nulla et invalida merito declarari et abrogari debeat quam etiam clarae memoriae Ludovicus xi Francorum rex abrogavit ut in eius patentibus literis desuper confectis plenius continetur.

Therefore, with the approval of the same council, we commit to the meetings of our venerable brothers, cardinals of the aforesaid church, and of other prelates, which are to be held in the upper room of the Lateran, insofar as this is necessary, the business of the declaration and abrogation which we are to make, as well as the report that is to be made to us and the same sacred council concerning the matters discussed in the first and other sessions, insofar as this can conveniently be done.

Declarationis igitur et abrogationis per nos faciendarum huiusmodi negotium et discussionem venerabilium fratrum nostrorum ecclesiae praefatae cardinalium et aliorum praelatorum congregationibus quas in Lateranensi sala superiori quatenus opus fuerit facient relationem que discussorum in prima aut aliis sessionibus prout commode fieri poterit nobis et sacro concilio faciendam eodem sacro concilio approbante committimus.