#173 - The First Vatican Council (1869-1870)

#173 - The First Vatican Council (1869-1870)

From Why Catholic? by Justin Hibbard

March 17, 2026 · 16 min · Episode 173

About this episode

Justin Hibbard examines the First Vatican Council, its historical context, and the controversies surrounding it.

Justin Hibbard continues our series on the 21 Ecumenical Church Councils by examining the Catholic Church’s 20th council - the First Vatican Council. After 306 years, why did the Church decide to call another council? What were the major social factors going on at the time? And why was this council particularly controversial? SOCIAL LINKS * Follow Why Catholic on Instagram. * Subscribe to Why Catholic on YouTube. * Follow Justin on Facebook. SOURCES: * Papal Encyclicals: Decrees of the First Vatican Council * New Advent: Vatican Council * The Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church: A History by Joseph Kelly * Video: General Councils 14: Vatican I - Fr Timothy Matkin - St Francis Dallas * Episode 104: The Nuclear Football * Episode 111: Papal Infallibility * Episode 65: From Doctrine to Dogma PREVIOUS EPISODES IN THIS SERIES * Episode 146: Introduction to the 21 Ecumenical Councils * Episode 147: The World that Led to the Council of Nicaea * Episode 148: The First Council of Nicaea (325) * Episode 149: From Nicaea to Constantinople * Episode 150: The First Council of Constantinople (381) * Episode 151: The Council of Ephesus (431) * Episode 152: The Council of Chalcedon (451)…

People in this episode

Host: Justin Hibbard

Topics covered

  • First Vatican Council
  • Ecumenical Councils
  • Catholic Church history
  • Church controversies
  • Social factors in church decisions

Keywords

  • Vatican Council
  • Catholic Church
  • ecumenical councils
  • church history
  • controversial councils

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church: A History by Joseph Kelly, Papal Encyclicals: Decrees of the First Vatican Council, General Councils 14: Vatican I - Fr Timothy Matkin - St Francis Dallas, Episode 104: The Nuclear Football, Episode 111: Papal Infallibility, Episode 65: From Doctrine to Dogma, Episode 146: Introduction to the 21 Ecumenical Councils, Episode 147: The World that Led to the Council of Nicaea, Episode 148: The First Council of Nicaea (325), Episode 149: From Nicaea to Constantinople

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