Fourth Lateran Council

From 11 to 30 November 1215, with over 400 bishops and some 800 abbots and priors. It issued 71 canons. Canon 1 professes the faith against the Cathars and states that the bread and wine are “transubstantiated” into the body and blood of Christ; canon 21 obliges every believer who has reached the age of discretion to confess at least once a year and receive communion at Easter. It condemned Joachim of Fiore's Trinitarian teaching, called a crusade and required Jews and Muslims to wear distinctive dress (canon 68).

Convoked by

Pope Innocent III

Canons

71

Catholic Church only (twelfth ecumenical council in its numbering).