Déclaration des quatre articles

The Declaration of the Four Articles, also known as the Four Gallican Articles, was a declaration of principles adopted by an assembly of the French clergy in 1682. This declaration, largely drafted by Bishop Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet, asserted that:

• Rulers are independent of the church in temporal matters.
• The pope's authority in spiritual matters is subordinate to that of a general council.
• The established rights and customs of the French church cannot be overridden by Rome.
• The pope's pronouncements on matters of faith require ratification by a general council.

This declaration was a significant expression of Gallicanism, a movement advocating for the restriction of papal power within France and emphasizing the autonomy of the French church and the authority of the French king. While condemned by the papacy, the articles remained influential in defining Gallican thought.12