Vatican II (1962)

21st Ecumenical Council (Catholic reckoning) · Rome (Vatican) · A.D. 1962–1965

The twenty-first ecumenical council, convened by Pope John XXIII and concluded under Pope Paul VI. It issued sixteen documents — four constitutions, nine decrees, and three declarations — reforming the liturgy, restating the doctrine of the Church, and setting the Church’s relation to Scripture, other Christians, other religions, and the modern world.

Official English text from the Vatican website. © Libreria Editrice Vaticana; reproduced here verbatim for study. Reference markers in the text are retained as printed and each document’s note apparatus is given under a Notes heading.

Constitutions

1. Sacrosanctum Concilium — Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (4 December 1963).
2. Lumen Gentium — Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (21 November 1964):
   • Part I
   • Part II
3. Dei Verbum — Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (18 November 1965).
4. Gaudium et Spes — Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (7 December 1965):
   • Part I
   • Part II
   • Part III

Decrees

1. Inter Mirifica — Decree on the Media of Social Communications (4 December 1963).
2. Orientalium Ecclesiarum — Decree on the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite (21 November 1964).
3. Unitatis Redintegratio — Decree on Ecumenism (21 November 1964).
4. Christus Dominus — Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church (28 October 1965).
5. Perfectae Caritatis — Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life (28 October 1965).
6. Optatam Totius — Decree on Priestly Training (28 October 1965).
7. Apostolicam Actuositatem — Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (18 November 1965).
8. Ad Gentes — Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church (7 December 1965).
9. Presbyterorum Ordinis — Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests (7 December 1965).

Declarations

1. Gravissimum Educationis — Declaration on Christian Education (28 October 1965).
2. Nostra Aetate — Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions (28 October 1965).
3. Dignitatis Humanae — Declaration on Religious Freedom (7 December 1965).

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