Second Vatican Council facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Second Vatican Ecumenical Council Concilium Oecumenicum Vaticanum Secundum  (Latin)
Saint Peter's Basilica Venue of the Second Vatican Council
Date	11 October 1962 (11 October 1962) – 8 December 1965 (8 December 1965)
Accepted by	Catholic Church
Previous council	First Vatican Council (1869-1870)
Convoked by	Pope John XXIII
President	Pope John XXIII Pope Paul VI
Attendance	up to 2,625
Topics	The Church in itself, its sole salvific role as the one, true and complete Christian faith, also in relation to ecumenism among other religions, in relation to the modern world, renewal of consecrated life, liturgical disciplines, etc.
Documents and statements	Four constitutions: Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy) Lumen gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church) Dei verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation) Gaudium et spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World) Three declarations: Gravissimum educationis (Declaration on Christian Education) Nostra aetate (Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions) Dignitatis humanae (Declaration on Religious Freedom) Nine decrees: Inter mirifica (Decree on the Media of Social Communication) Orientalium Ecclesiarum (Decree on the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite) Unitatis redintegratio (Decree on Ecumenism) Christus Dominus (Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church) Perfectae caritatis (Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life) Optatam totius (Decree on Priestly Training) Apostolicam actuositatem (Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity) Ad gentes (Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church) Presbyterorum ordinis (Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests)
Chronological list of ecumenical councils

The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, or Vatican II, was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. Pope John XXIII started it in 1962. It lasted until 1965, when Pope Paul VI ended it. Four future popes took part in the council's opening session: Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini, who on succeeding Pope John XXIII took the name of Paul VI; Bishop Albino Luciani, the future Pope John Paul I; Bishop Karol Wojtyła, who became Pope John Paul II. Father Joseph Ratzinger, who was only 35 at the time, was there as a theological consultant. More than forty years later, he became Pope Benedict XVI.

Different things were discussed. These aimed at modernising the church, and opening a dialogue with other religions. Many people see these meetings as the most important event in the Catholic Church in the 20th century. They let Mass be in different languages.

Images for kids

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  Before a papal Mass at the council; area between papal altar and apse/cathedra altar, in front of it the seat of the pope.

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  A Catholic priest celebrating Tridentine Mass, the form of the Mass prevalent before the council, showing the chalice after the consecration.

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  A contemporary Mass in modern practice, as versus populum became the common posture and gesture practised after the council. The priest faces the congregation, while vestments and artwork are less ornate.

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  Paul VI presiding over the introductory ingress of the council, flanked by Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani (left), Cardinal Camerlengo Benedetto Aloisi Masella and Monsignor Enrico Dante (future Cardinal), Papal Master of Ceremonies (right), and two Papal gentlemen.

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  The abolition of Friday of Sorrows of the Virgin Mary is an example of changes in the Liturgical Calendar after the council. The Virgin of Hope of Macarena, Spain.

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  pre-Vatican II habit

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  Second Vatican Council

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  The opening of the Second Session of Vatican II

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  Bishops at the Second Vatican Council

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  Council Fathers with their secretaries leaving St. Peter's Basilica

See also

In Spanish: Concilio Vaticano II para niños