The Vatican II Council, initiated by John XXIII on October 11, 1962, takes place nearly a century after the Vatican I Council. It aims to conclude unresolved debates and project an image of openness to the world. In a context marked by technological advances and divisive societal issues, the council adopts historical measures such as the recognition of religious freedom, the encouragement of understanding other religions, and the abandonment of Latin in the liturgy. Certain topics led to fierce debates between the conservative faction, wanting to preserve religious orthodoxy, and the reformers, eager to confront the Church with the phenomenon of secularization. John XXIII’s death in the spring of 1963 and the appointment of Pope Paul VI marked the council.
Why Was the Vatican II Council Convened?
Unlike previous councils, Vatican II does not aim to address a specific doctrinal or theological question or resolve a crisis faced by the Church. Its goal is to change the Church’s image and evolve it. The interruption of Vatican I in 1870 left some unresolved questions, but the announcement of this new council surprised everyone. The pope hopes to restore the Church’s image by anchoring it in its time and bringing it closer to believers of all religions. Vatican II was specifically an ecumenical council to extend a hand to other Christian religions.
Etymologically, “ecumenical” means universal. Ecumenical councils indeed gather authorities from different branches of Christianity, although only the Catholic Church has maintained their practice. Vatican II, although referred to as an ecumenical council, is primarily a Catholic council. The council invited representatives of other Christian religions, but limited their number and limited their role. The ecumenical council of Vatican II aimed mainly to renew dialogue with other branches of Christianity and, more generally, with all believers, delivering a message of openness and tolerance.
Who Convened the Vatican II Council?
Emmanuel II’s capture of Rome interrupted Vatican I in 1870, but it took nearly a century for another council to convene. Vatican II took place between October 11, 1962, and December 8, 1965, at the request of John XXIII. The pope himself announced the council on January 25, 1959, in the presence of 17 cardinals from the Roman Curia. In the following months and over two and a half years, John XXIII prepared for this event.
More Read
John XXIII is responsible for convening Vatican II. Born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli on November 25, 1881, near Bergamo, Italy, he became the 261st Catholic pope on October 28, 1958, succeeding Pius XII. He did not wait three months after his election to officially announce his desire to convene an ecumenical council, which no one expected. However, John XXIII never saw the results of the council, as he prematurely died on June 3, 1963. Giovanni Battista Montini succeeded him under the name Paul VI, and he completed his work by leading the council to its conclusion.
We systematically name councils after the locations where they take place. The Vatican hosted the last two councils, hence the names Vatican I and Vatican II. There is no direct link between the two events, except for their location.
What Changes Were Brought by Vatican II?
The Vatican II Council is characterized by various changes, such as the abandonment of Latin in liturgy. The goal is to bring the Church closer to its followers and, generally, to anchor its practices in the modern world. By using the languages of each country for its masses, the Church demonstrates a concern for openness.
Openness indeed the guiding principle for the work of the participants at Vatican II, as evidenced by the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium. This document addresses the ecumenical question through the theme of the Church’s relationships with non-Catholic Christians. The Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, in turn, focuses on the theme of Man and also the Church in the modern world.
With Dignitatis Humanae, Vatican II recognizes religious freedom by affirming the right of each individual to choose, practice, and express their faith according to their conscience, free from any constraint or persecution.
Another important issue addressed by Vatican II is the restructuring of the Church. The Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium devotes considerable discussion to this through the enhancement of the episcopate. It also tackles the role of the laity, offering them greater integration within the Catholic family.
Vatican II brings new advancements in divisive ecumenical topics, such as the Virgin Mary. Despite Protestants traditionally viewing the veneration she receives in the Catholic Church as disproportionate, Lumen Gentium dedicates a complete chapter to her.
Similarly, there is renewed debate about Revelation. The constitution Dei Verbum, in contrast to the dogmatic constitution Dei Filius of Vatican I, emphasizes dialogue and communication between God and his faithful. God no longer presents his truths in the form of a lesson but proposes a dialogue intended to lead believers to the truth.
How Did the Second Vatican Council Unfold?
The first session opened on October 11, 1962. Two days later, a dramatic event occurred when a small number of cardinals opposed the working methods planned by the Roman Curia and succeeded. It ended on December 8, 1962, and John XXIII died on June 3 of the following year.
The successor of John XXIII, Paul VI, inaugurated the second session on September 29, 1963. This session led to the approval of the constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium on the liturgy and the decree Inter Mirifica on the means of social communication.
On September 14, 1964, the third session commenced with the adoption of various texts, including the schemata on ecumenism (Unitatis Redintegratio), on the Eastern Rite Churches (Orientalium Ecclesiarum), and on the Church (Lumen Gentium). Paul VI closed this session on November 21, 1964, by declaring Mary Mater Ecclesiae, Mary Mother of the Church.
The fourth session took place from September 14 to December 8, 1965. The three main advancements of this session were the constitution, Gaudium et Spes, and the decrees Ad Gentes and Presbyterorum Ordinis.
What Are the Consequences of the Second Vatican Council?
Through this council, Popes John XXIII and Paul VI allowed the Church to open up to the modern world and progress. The Second Vatican Council multiplied gestures of openness in favor of Christian and non-Christian believers.
By advocating openness, the council raised great hopes within the Catholic community, particularly among progressives. Conversely, conservatives saw the crisis of vocations, and more generally, the crisis of Catholicism, as a direct consequence of Vatican II. What represents progress for some becomes a challenge for others. Traditionalist clerics saw in Vatican II a questioning of the Church’s two thousand-year-old teachings and denounced the modernism promoted by Paul VI. While some, such as Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, publicly opposed Vatican II, others suggested advancing its implementation to address the crisis facing Catholicism.
