Samuel Ruiz
In 1962, the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) convened, focusing on the social responsibility of Christians and on opening the Church to theological development and dialogue. Vatican II encouraged that sermons be translated and read to communities in their local languages and that the Church be more involved in addressing social problems, such as those occurring in Central and South America. For Ruiz, his participation in the Second Vatican Council allowed time for reflection on the decisions and actions carried out under his administration, which brought him a long way from the somewhat naïve enthusiasm which he’d had during his first years as bishop. It was Vatican II which inspired Ruiz to translate scripture into local indigenous languages and into practice, with an emphasis on inculturation.
Julio Xavier Labayen
Msgr. Labayen, as was the tradition of calling bishops monsignor during the Pre-Vatican II period, was installed as the second Prelate of Infanta on 12 September 1966 at the Cathedral of Infant Jesus of Prague and St Mark the Evangelist in Infanta, Quezon. With the title monsignor, and like many of his contemporaries, Bishop Labayen, OCD was trained in the mindset of the Pre-Vatican II Church. He related with his priests and the faithful with letters and memoranda. But the younger priests who were already sharing the vision of the Vatican II threw straight to the bin his correspondences as they preferred dialogue! This was the turning point of Bishop Labayen, OCD, an event he described "I felt like Saul knocked off his horse." He continues, "The urge to get back on my high horse was strong. But thank God, the grace of that moment has prodded me to remain with my feet on the ground." That is the kickstarter of the pastoral style that characterized Bishop Labayen's ministry.
The Church in the Philippines declared during the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (informally known as the PCP-II convoked in 1991) that "As we approach the year 2000, Christ bids this community—ourselves, the laity, religious and clergy of the Catholic Church in the Philippines—to be a Church of the Poor." This vision, first arose during the Second Vatican Council, upholding Catholic social teachings, were adapted by local conferences such as the Episcopal Conference of Latin America (CELAM) when they declared the "preferential option for the poor" and the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) declaring the same in 1975.