Being light to the nations: the relevance of Vatican II

August 20, 2020

18 August 2020 (Abu Dhabi).

Being light to the nations: the relevance of Vatican II

When Pope John XXIII took office in 1959, the 77 year old Pontiff found himself face to face with a world which had its unique challenges. On the political, economic and social fronts, the world still had to deal with the aftermath of the Second World War, the decolonization of former European colonial empires, the clashes between communism and capitalism, a Europe divided between the Iron Curtain and the development of sophisticated weapons of mass destruction.

Pope John XXIII, who had previously served as director of foreign missions in Italy, apostolic visitator to Bulgaria, apostolic delegate to Greece and head of the diplomatic mission to Turkey and later, papal nuncio to France, knew the great problems affecting the world first-hand. Soon after he took office, he remarked to his Secretary, “My desk is piling up with problems, questions, requests, hopes. What’s really necessary is a council.”

By the 1950s, Christianity had an established worldwide base, and with the rise in the world’s population, more Christians now lived in non-European nations. This welcome aspect, however, also warranted a renewed look at the vast missionary and pastoral landscape, which now comprised of many tribes, nations and languages. The identity and the mission of a global church which faced the modern world had to be chartered and articulated afresh. The church could not ignore pressing requests for contemporary proclamations on its universal mission, relations with the modern world, a liturgy which returned to the simplicity and essentials of the Gospels and the primacy of the Holy Scriptures in the life of the faithful.

Despite opposition, Pope John XXIII decided to move ahead with his inspiration to call an ecumenical council. In his opening declaration, “Gaudet Mater Ecclesia” (Mother Church rejoices), Pope John emphasized the pastoral, not doctrinal nature of the council. The language of condemnation was to be dropped and the Church, as a mother, was to use the medicine of mercy. The sacred deposit of Christian doctrine was to be more effectively defended and presented considering the modern world’s ever-changing trends.

As all sincere promoters of Christian, Catholic, and apostolic faith strongly desire, what is needed is that this doctrine be more fully and more profoundly known and that minds be more fully imbued and formed by it. What is needed is that this certain and unchangeable doctrine, to which loyal submission is due, be investigated and presented in the way demanded by our times. For the deposit of faith, the truths contained in our venerable doctrine, are one thing; the fashion in which they are expressed, but with the same meaning and the same judgement, is another thing. This way of speaking will require a great deal of work and, it may be, much patience: types of presentation must be introduced which are more in accord with a teaching authority which is primarily pastoral in character. (Mater et Magistra, 15)

Around 2500 bishops participated in the council. The Council brought forth four constitutions, nine decrees (documents on practical questions) and three declarations (documents on particular issues). The Church was to move from a hierarchical model towards the model of the pilgrim people of God, with all baptized catholics, irrespective of their status as clerics or lay people, espousing a universal call to holiness. Ecumenism – the relationship of the catholic church with other Christians - was another important theme that was addressed at the council, as was the church’s relationship with non-Christian religions, which was to be characterized by a dialogue based on truth and charity, with a respectful offering of the message of the Gospel to each individual conscience.

The Council, which was announced by Pope John XXIII on 25 January 1959 and formally opened on 11 October 1962, was concluded by Pope Paul VI on 8 December 1965. All the pontiffs who have followed, including John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis, have confirmed, built upon and continued the work of the Second Vatican Council. The documents of the Council merit a fresh study and appreciation so that each of us can discover our mission as Christians in the world of today.

Resources:
On this link is a talk given by Bishop Robert Barron on the relevance of the Second Vatican Council and how the pontificate of Pope Francis is driven by the counciliar impetus.

For those would like to read the documents of the Second Vatican Council, they can be found on this link.