Second Vatican Ecumenical Council

Question 1

Introduction

Define ecumenical councils

Answer 1

Are an assembly of the Roman Catholic Church, presided over by the popes and is made up of cardinals, bishops and other prelates.
- when decisions are made and agreed by the pope these decisions become binding.

Question 2

More on what an ecumenical council is

Answer 2

In this type of council, all bishops often world are entitled to vote and gather under presidency of the pope.
-> was held in the Vatican in Rome and called by Pope John XXIII on October 11, 1962

Question 3

Main aims of council

Answer 3

To establish unity and renewal of the church

Question 4

Highlights of the essay

Answer 4

Highlight topics of why the council was called and what it achieved, key documents of the council, the historical context during the time of the council and finally key people involved.

Question 5

PARA 1 - why Vatican 2 was called, what it achieved and key documents

Answer 5

Ecumenical councils are meant to bring people together.
Pope John called the council to renew the church and look at the ‘sign of the times’
- firstly, it was instrumental for renewal in self understanding, inner life and relationships to other Christian traditions.
- Those who lived around the time of tech council felt a profound sense of renewal as if they had experienced a new Pentecost.

Question 6

PARA 1

Answer 6

It was called also to engage more with the modern world

• several documents came out of the council
  1. Decree on the media of communication: media was viewed with distrust, now the importance of film, tv etc is recognised.
  2. Dogmatic constitution of the church: before, the church was viewed as a spiritual super state. With the pope at the head with all the power like a monarch. Nowadays more emphasis is placed on the church’s people. The equality of all is stressed. -> this encouraged unity and involvement within the church + inclusivity.

Question 7

PARA 2 - historical context

Answer 7

• the devastations of WW2 resulted in the destruction of housing, schools, hospitals as well as demobilisation of soldiers and civilians.
• this caused many people to be disheartened and loose hope for betterment. - caused lots of people’s beliefs in god to weaken + caused a more fractured society.
• rise of nuclear weapons as a result of the war created fear, terror and uncertainty in civilians.
  -> this meant many people turned away from god cos of loss of hope and peace.
  The church was also entering a new era of technology that many were Curious and excited about but many Christian people were unhappy with this modern change.

Question 8

PARA 3 - key people involved

Answer 8

We need to understand who pioneered the council.
Pope John XXIII: announced the councils creation.
- wanted to create an environment of ‘dialogue’, where the church would engage in/ adapt to the modern world.
- seemed an unlikely choice for pope (wasn’t well known in the church)
- was expected to be a transitional pope, nothing special but within 6 months of being pope, he called the council.
- he aimed to bring renewal to the church, to be a sign of union and to bring peace and justice to the world.

Question 9

PARA 3 - key person - Pope Paul VI

Answer 9

After pope john died after the councils first session. Pope Paul carried out his work and directed the councils completion.

• over all, this ecumenical council was far more inclusive then recent councils. For the first time leaders of other church’s religions attended as observers. Women too.
• > this inclusive quality signalled a major shift in the church’s relationship with wider society.