What was the principal outcome of the Council of Florence?

The principal outcome of the Council of Florence, which took place between 1438 and 1445, was indeed the efforts to reunite the Eastern and Western Churches. This ecumenical council was notable for its attempts to mend the longstanding schism between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches that had been formally split since the Great Schism of 1054.

During the council, representatives from both sides engaged in discussions concerning theological disagreements and sought to find common ground. The council produced several decrees, including the "Laetentur Caeli," which articulated attempts to reconcile various points of contention, such as the understanding of the Holy Spirit and the authority of the papacy, among others. Although the outcomes did not ultimately lead to a lasting unity, as many Eastern Churches did not accept the decrees, the principal focus and outcome of the Council of Florence were centered around this goal of reuniting the churches.

This historical context highlights the significance of the council in the broader narrative of Christian ecumenism and the relations between the Eastern and Western branches of Christianity.