The Council
The Council Fathers gather in St. Peter's Basilica.
As so-called periti (expert advisers), about two hundred theologians (generally professors of theology) were called to Rome. Of the 2,908 legitimate delegates, 2,540 participated in the opening. Of the invited non-Catholic Christian churches and communities, seventeen were present through thirty-five representatives. In the end, twenty-eight non-Roman churches, including the Russian Orthodox church, were represented by ninety-three observers. There were eighty-six governments and international bodies represented at the opening.
The council met in four sessions: October 11 to December 8, 1962; September 29 to December 2, 1963; September 14 to November 21, 1964; and September 4 to December 8, 1965. Ten public sessions and 168 general assembly meetings were held.
From the time of its proclamation, the council was intended to have a double goal: reform within the Church and preparation for Christian and world unity. But already in the opening address this goal was expanded and deepened. The council was given the task of proclaiming the entire Christian truth "through a new effort" whereby it was of great consequence to distinguish between the truths and the "way in which they are proclaimed." Aggiornamento (Ital., "coming together") was to demonstrate the credibility of the Church, and the Church's relationship to non-Christians was to be improved.
- New Catholic Encyclopedia, Karl Rahner and Adolf Darlap
Books in Loyola's Collections
Receiving the Council : theological and canonical insights and debates by Call Number: BX830 1962 .O89 2009Publication Date: 2009Cudahy Main Stacks
Vatican II : renewal within tradition by Call Number: BX830 1962 .V3725 2008Publication Date: 2008Cudahy Main Stacks
Vatican II : a sociological analysis of religious change by Call Number: BX830 1962 .W47 2007Publication Date: 2007Cudahy Main Stacks
Vatican Council II: the conciliar and post conciliar documents by Call Number: BX830 1962 .A3 F62 1988Publication Date: 1988Cudahy Main Stacks
Lewis Reference
Joseph Ratzinger in communio by Call Number: BX1751.3 .B453 2010ISBN: 0802864163Publication Date: 2010Cudahy Main Stacks
Key Dates & Documents
Dates
- January 25, 1959 - Pope John XXIII announces the Council
- December 25, 1961 - Humanae Salutis issued
- October 11, 1962 - Council is opened
- June 3, 1963 - Death of John XXIII
- June 21, 1963 - Election of Pope Paul VI
- December 8, 1965 - Council is closed
John XXIII signs Humanae Salutis, the bull convoking the Council. December 25, 1961.
Documents
- Sacrosanctum Concilium - December 4, 1963
- Nostra Aetatae - October 28, 1965
- Gravissimum Educationis - October 28, 1965
- Dei Verbum - November 18, 1965
- Lumen Gentium - November 21, 1965
- Dignitatis Humanae - December 7, 1965
- Gaudium et Spes - December 7, 1965