Nelson H. Minnich is Professor in the Department of History, The Catholic University of America, USA.

• Preface; What is an Ecumenical Council? The 16th-century teachings of the theologian Roberto Bellarmino and the Canonist Domenico Giacobazzi; The legitimacy of the Fifth Lateran Council (1512-17); The Fifth Lateran Council as a theatre for demonstrating papal power; Julius II and Leo X as presidents of the Fifth Lateran Council (1512-1517); Session IX: origins of decree Supernae dispositionis arbitrio (1514) - The Reform Proposals (1513) of Stefano Taleazzi for the Fifth Lateran Council (1512-17); Session X: decree Inter multiplices on credit organization (1515) - The decree Inter multiplices of Lateran V on Montes pietatis; Session X: decree Inter sollicitudines on preventive censorship (1515) - The Fifth Lateran Council and preventive censorship of printed books; Session XI: decree Pastor Aeternus on papal control of councils (1516) - Luther, Cajetan, and Pastor Aeternus (1516) of Lateran V on conciliar authority; Session XI: decree Dum intra mentis arcana on religious and their privileges - Egidio Antonini da Viterbo, the reform of religious orders, and the Fifth Lateran Council (1512-1517); Session XII: Decree Constituti iuxta verbum on closing the council - The closing of the Fifth Lateran Council (1512-17); The implementation of Lateran V by the Milanese councils of San Carlo Borromeo; Leo X: success or failure; Index.