What Does “Ecumenical council” Mean in the Bible?
“Ecumenical” means “of the whole world.” An ecumenical council gathers the bishops of the whole Church.
It can mean
- Ecumenical council: there is no ecumenical council unless the Pope approves or accepts it.
- The first one: the Council of Nicaea, in the year 325.
- Another use: “ecumenism” is seeking the unity of all Christians, through prayer and conversion of heart.
Where it appears in the Bible
Acts 15:6; Acts 15:28
What the Bible says
Acts 15:6
And the apostles and ancients assembled to consider of this matter.
Acts 15:28
For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay no further burden upon you than these necessary things:
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: Catechism 884, 242 and 821