Reasons for Calling the Council
• 20th Century bloodiest in history
• World Wars, Depression• Cold War• Complete work of Vatican I• Recognize Church is no
longer European, but Global
Intentions
• Aggiornamento• Christ the fullness of
Revelation
Pope John XXIII
• Angelo Roncalli• Born in 1881• Joined the Priesthood• Made a Bishop in 1921• Sent to Greece and Turkey• 1953, Archbishop of Venice• 1958, elected Pope
Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani
• Number 1 choice for Pope in 1958
• Ultra conservative Faction of the Vatican
• Motto “Semper Idem”• Election of Roncalli over
Ottaviani reflect a desire for change
Structure of Vatican II
• Called by Pope John XXIII• Pope Paul VI• 2000-2500 bishops • 4 sessions• Met in fall• Subcommittees worked on
documents in winter and spring
Pope Paul VI: 1963-1978
Other notable Members
A True Ecumenical Council
• Invited other Christian denominations
• Other religious leaders present to observe
Results:
• 16 Major documents• Outlining new and updated
positions of the Church• Up to the Present, largely
defines the Church’s position
4 Constitutions
• Dei Verbum• Lumen Gentium• Gaudium Et Spes• Sacrosanctum Concilium
9 Decrees
• Ad Gentes• Apostolicam Actuositatem• Christus Dominus• Inter Mirifica• Optatem Totius• Presbyterorum Ordinis• Orientalium Ecclesiarum• Unitatis Redintegratio• Perfectae Caritatis
3 Declarations
• Gravissimum Educationis• Nostra Aetate• Dignitatus Humane
Legacy of Vatican II
• “End of the Constantine Era”• Global Church• Matthew 24:14 and 28:19