

Latest
Search

Revisiting the ‘Spirit of Vatican II’
COMMENTARY: Now is the time to once again return to the actual conciliar texts, and those of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, in order to expose the capitulation to the spirit of the age.

64 Years Ago, John XXIII Made the Historic Announcement of Vatican II
COMMENTARY: In revealing his plan to a group gathered at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls on Jan. 25, 1959, the Pope expressed a firm conviction that his idea for an ecumenical council came from the Holy Spirit.

Responding to Ross Douthat’s ‘Easy Catholicism’
COMMENTARY: By applying a materialist instead of personal analysis of Vatican II, it may be the Catholic columnist who’s committing the error of making Catholic realities too simplistic.

Why Was Vatican II Called? In His Opening Speech, John XXIII Explains It All
Pope St. John XXIII’s opening address, ‘Gaudet Mater Ecclesia,’ remains one of the best ways to understand the importance of the Second Vatican Council as a whole.

Clashing Visions of Vatican II Define Present-Day Theological Fault Lines
ANALYSIS: Sixty years after its opening, the meaning of the Second Vatican Council is still contested, as interpretations sidelined by John Paul II and Benedict XVI experience a revival under Francis.

60 Years of Vatican II (Oct. 15)
On Tuesday, Oct. 11, the Catholic Church marked the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council by Pope John XXIII. To commemorate the Council and examine the mark it continues to have on the Church these 60 years later, the Register gathered a symposium of voices. Senior Editor Jonathan Liedl helped organize this effort, and theologian Larry Chapp contributed to the special edition. Both join Jeanette De Melo to discuss Vatican II’s continued relevance in this moment as well as its significance for the future of the Church.

Unfulfilled Legacies of Vatican II: The Renewal of Scripture Study and Marian Theology
COMMENTARY: While most of the conversation about the Council focuses on its connection with the past, there are at least two important areas where we still need to realize its future.

60 Years Later: 2 English Bishops Reflect on Vatican II
Bishop Mark Davies: ‘I would echo Pope Benedict’s repeated invitation: that to understand the Second Vatican Council, we must go back to the text of what the Council itself taught.’

The Ecumenism of Vatican II, 60 Years Later
COMMENTARY: Christ’s prayer for unity, at the Last Supper, reminds us that unity among Christian believers is an essential part of the Church’s mission.