1962–1965 · Vatican City
Second Vatican Council
Why this council matters
Vatican II provides a broad account of the Church’s life and mission. Its four constitutions concern revelation, the Church, liturgy and the Church in the modern world. The decrees and declarations address further aspects of ecclesial life and relationships.
It should not be reduced to a change of worship language or a vague break with everything earlier. Read individual documents in their own terms and in relation to earlier councils. This library currently supplies an original introduction; full modern translated texts remain external pending documented reuse rights.
Read and investigate
The official Vatican document index provides the sixteen texts. In-app full text is not yet licensed.
Controversies
The Church’s life, worship, mission and relations with the modern world and other Christians.
Decrees
Produced sixteen documents: four constitutions, nine decrees and three declarations.
Definitions
Its teaching must be read in the actual documents and with attention to the kind of document and teaching involved.