What is Second Vatican Council?
The '''Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican''', or '''Vatican II''', was the twenty-first [[Ecumenical council|Ecumenical Council]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. An Ecumenical Council is a meeting of the bishops of the Church to discuss matters of Church [[doctrine]] and practice. [[Pope John XXIII]] started Vatican II in 1962 and it lasted until 1965, when [[Pope Paul VI]] ended it. Four future popes took part in the council's opening session: [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] Giovanni Battista Montini, who on succeeding Pope John XXIII took the name of [[Pope Paul VI|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 (liturgy)|Mass]] be said in different languages, instead of just Latin. == Other websites == * [http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/index.htm Documents of the council, at the Website of the Vatican] {{religion-stub}} [[Category:Church councils|Vatican 2]] [[Category:Roman Catholicism]] [[Category:1960s]]