conciliarism means the doctrine that the highest ecclesiastical authority is an ecumenical council (rather than a pope). Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 90 out of 100.
Why “conciliarism” is a great word
CONCILIARISM — [Noun] The doctrine that the supreme governing authority of the universal Christian church resides in an ecumenical council, not in a solitary pope. From the English adjective 'conciliar' (pertaining to a council) combined with the suffix '-ism' (denoting a doctrine or system). First attested in English circa 1677. Unlike "papalism" (which vests ultimate sovereignty in the pontiff alone) or "collegiality" (which suggests cooperative governance under papal primacy), conciliarism asserts a corporate, constitutional supremacy vested in the assembly. It is the musty air of a hall filled with debating bishops, the dry rustle of vellum bearing the weight of a hundred seals, and the brittle snap of a papal bull being countermanded by parchment vote—a fragile, constitutional dream for a kingdom not of this world, born from the church's ancient suspicion that no one man should hold the keys alone.
Etymology
From conciliar + -ism.
noun
- The doctrine that the highest ecclesiastical authority is an ecumenical council (rather than a pope).