Concilie

Concilie is the Italian plural form of concilio, a formal assembly convened to deliberate on matters of common concern and to issue decrees, laws, or doctrinal definitions. The term is most commonly used in ecclesiastical contexts, where councils bring together church leaders to discern doctrine, discipline, or church policy. It can also appear in secular contexts to describe deliberative bodies, though in everyday Italian those are often referred to as consigli or assemblee.

The word derives from Latin concilium, meaning an assembly or gathering. In the history of Christianity, concilies have played a central role in defining orthodoxy and organizational norms. Ecumenical councils, in particular, are regarded as bearing broad authority for the Christian church. Notable examples include the First Council of Nicaea (325), the Council of Constantinople (381), the Council of Ephesus (431), the Council of Chalcedon (451), and the Council of Trent (1545–1563). The Vatican II council (1962–1965) is also commonly cited in modern Catholic discourse. Each council typically produced canons and creeds intended to guide belief and practice.

Organizationally, a concilio may be presided over by a pope, patriarch, or other hierarchical authority, and its decisions are expected to be observed by the members or jurisdiction it covers. In the Catholic Church, ecumenical councils are considered authoritative for the universal Church, while local or regional concilies address issues within a specific ecclesiastical territory. Outside religious usage, the term remains a general reference to formal deliberative assemblies that issue binding resolutions.