The Lateran Council (964) was a synod (or church council) held in the Lateran Palace on 23 June 964, for the purpose of deposing Pope Benedict V. After Pope Leo VIII had been deposed in 964 by the rival pope John XII in the Synod of Rome, Leo had fled and sought sanctuary with the Holy Roman Emperor Otto I.
After John's death on 14 May 964, the Roman nobles elected Pope Benedict V in his place.
Garbed in his pontifical robes, he was asked by the arch-deacon by what right did he assume the chair of Saint Peter whilst Leo was still living, especially as he had participated in the synod which had deposed John XII and had overseen Leo's election.
He was also accused of having broken his oath to the emperor not to elect a pope without imperial consent.
On this sentence, Leo cut Benedict's pallium into two pieces and broke his pastoral staff, before tearing off his pontifical robes.