The Second Vatican Council was a general council of the Roman Catholic Church, announced by Pope John XXIII in 1959 and opened in October 1962 in St. Peter's Basilica. Over four sessions, bishops from around the world, together with observers from other churches, discussed the renewal of the Church, with the aim of aggiornamento, meaning bringing it up to date. After John XXIII died in 1963, his successor Paul VI continued the council until its close in December 1965. It produced sixteen documents, including the constitutions on the liturgy and on the Church, and declarations on religious freedom and on relations with non-Christian religions. The reforms, which included the use of local languages in the Mass, reshaped Catholic worship and life and also caused lasting debate.
Before and after
- 2 September 1962Birth of Keir Starmer
- 8 September 1962Establishment of Khao Yai National Park
- from 26 September 1962 to 1 December 1970North Yemen civil war
- 27 September 1962Rachel Carson publishes Silent Spring
- from 11 October 1962 to 8 December 1965Second Vatican Council
- from 14 October 1962 to 28 October 1962Cuban Missile Crisis
- from 20 October 1962 to 21 November 1962Sino-Indian War
- 8 November 1962Establishment of Pirin National Park
- 11 November 1962Birth of Demi Moore
More in Art, literature & culture
- 1954Publication of The Lord of the Rings
- 1956Premiere of Eurovision Song Contest
- 1958Publication of Exodus
- from 13 August 1961 to 9 November 1989Construction of Berlin Wall
- 1986Construction of Musée d'Orsay
- from 17 April 2011 to 19 May 2019Premiere of Game of Thrones
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.