The Second Vatican Council (also called Vatican II) was an ecumenical council of the Catholic Church, announced by Pope John XXIII on January 25, 1959. Following the announcement of the council, the Pope appointed preparatory commissions to prepare an agenda and compose drafts of decrees on various topics, called schemata (singular: schema). The first session of the council opened on October 11, 1962. All bishops and certain other members of the Church hierarchy were summoned and had voting power; a number of non-voting theological advisors, women religious, laypeople, and observers from other Christian communities attended as auditors. The council met each Fall from 1962 to 1965, continuing under Pope John XXIII's successor, Pope Paul VI. The major themes of the council were: the ongoing renewal of the Church, missionary activity, sources of revelation, liturgy, the role of the laity, pastoral responsibilities of bishops, formation of priests and of religious sisters and brothers, the Eastern-rite Catholic churches, the relationship between the Catholic Church and other religions (especially Judaism and Islam), religious freedom, modern media for communication, Catholic education, and moral theology.

The council published sixteen official documents: four Constitutions, three Declarations, and nine Decrees:

Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation) addressed the sources of God's teaching, particularly the relative roles of Scripture and tradition, and confirmed the validity of modern scientific scholarship in the study of Scripture.

Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World) addressed contemporary extra-religious issues, including atheism, war, nuclear weapons, marriage, contraception, and aid to underdeveloped nations.

Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church) presented a theology of the Church as mystery, a community of the baptized faithful, the people of God and body of Christ, and a pilgrim moving towards heaven but marked by sanctity on earth.

Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy) authorized significant reforms in the forms for the Mass and other sacraments, notably increased participation by laity and the celebration of the Mass in vernacular languages.

Dignitatis Humanae (Declaration on Religious Freedom) affirmed religious liberty as a human right.

Gravissimum Educationis (Declaration on Christian Education) affirmed the right of parents to choose the education they want for their children and the right to freedom of inquiry in Catholic colleges and universities, while still upholding the importance of Catholic schools.

Nostra Aetate (Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions) affirmed that the Catholic Church accepts all that is true and holy in non-Christian religions, explicitly calling for an end to antisemitism and other discrimination based on race, color, religion, or condition of life.

Ad Gentes (Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church) oriented missionary activity towards social and economic welfare, stating that no one should be forced to accept the Catholic faith.

Christus Dominus (Decree Concerning the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church) gave full ordinary power to a bishop in his own diocese and encouraged conferences of bishops to exercise pastoral direction jointly.

Inter Mirifica (Decree on the Media of Social Communications) addressed the Church's relationship to the changing technologies and values of the modern world.

Optatam Totius (Decree on Priestly Training) emphasized the necessity of spiritual, intellectual, and disciplinary formation in preparing young men for the priesthood.

Orientalium Ecclesiarum (Decree on the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite) affirmed the value and validity of traditions other than the Latin Rite, stating that variety does not harm unity within the Church.

Perfectae Caritatis (Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life) provided guidelines for personal and institutional renewal for those in religious orders.

Presbyterorum Ordinis (Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests) reaffirmed priests’ calling to proclaim the Gospel, reaffirmed celibacy as a gift, and recommended fair salaries for parish priests.

Unitatis Redintegratio (Decree on Ecumenism) committed the Catholic Church to ongoing ecumenical work among Christians of different denominations.

Sources:

Catholic News Service, “Quick summaries of Vatican II’s 16 documents,” The Catholic Spirit, December 21, 2015. https://thecatholicspirit.com/news/local-news/1-sentence-on-each-of-the-16-documents-of-vatican-ii/

“Documents of the Second Vatican Council,” The Holy See. https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/index.htm

"Second Vatican Council." Encyclopedia Britannica, October 4, 2022. https://www.britannica.com/event/Second-Vatican-Council.