January 25, 1959 Pope John XXIII at Saint Paul’s Outside the Walls announces his intention to summon a Council.
June 5, 1960 Pope John establishes the preparatory commissions.
December 25, 1961 Pope John in the apostolic constitution Humanae Salutis convokes the Council.
July 20, 1962 Invitations are sent to separated Christian Churches and Communities to send delegate-observers to the Council.
October 11, 1962 The Second Vatican Ecumenical Council solemnly opens.
October 12, 1962 The Council adjourns at its first meeting to prepare to elect its own commission members rather than accept those appearing on the prepared lists.
October 20, 1962 The Council issues its “Message to Humanity.”
November 27, 1962 The first of the lay observers (men and women) are invited to the Council.
December 4, 1962 Cardinal Suenens proposes redrafting the schema on the Church, with two emphases, ad intra (the nature of the Church) and ad extra (the Church’s mission in the world).
December 8, 1962 The First Session of the Council concludes without any approved documents.
April 11, 1963 John XXIII issues his encyclical Pacem in Terris.
June 3, 1963 John XXIII dies.
June 21, 1963 Paul VI is elected and announces his intention to continue the Council.
September 29, 1963 The Second Session of the Council opens.
December 4, 1963 The Second Session of the Council closes with the promulgation of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy and the Decree on Social Communication.
January 4-6, 1964 Pope Paul makes an ecumenical journey to the Holy Land and meets with Patriarch Athenagoras.
May 19, 1964 Pope Paul creates the Secretariat for Non-Christian Religions [renamed Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in 1988].
September 14, 1964 The Third Session of the Council opens.
November 14-21, 1964 The so-called “Black Week” unfolds, revealing tensions on issues such as religious liberty, relations with non-Christians, and the role of the Church in the modern world.
November 21, 1964 The Third Session closes with the promulgation of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, the Decree on Ecumenism, and the Decree on Eastern Catholic Churches. Pope Paul proclaims the title of Mary as Mother of the Church.
December 2-5, 1964 Paul VI travels to India for the Eucharistic Congress.
March 7, 1965 The reformed Eucharistic liturgy is inaugurated; Pope Paul celebrates Mass in the vernacular.
September 14, 1965 The Fourth and final Session of the Council opens.
October 4-5, 1965 Pope Paul travels to New York to address the United Nations General Assembly; he reports to the Council about his visit.
October 28, 1965 The following documents are promulgated: Decree on the Bishops’ Pastoral Office in the Church; Decree on the Renewal of Religious Life; Decree on Priestly Formation; Declaration on Christian Education; Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions.
November 18, 1965 The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation and the Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity are promulgated. Pope Paul announces the beginning of the reform of the Roman Curia, the introduction of the beatification process of Popes Pius XII and John XXIII, a Jubilee period, and the convocation of the Synod of Bishops not later than 1967.
December 4, 1965: At Saint Paul Outside the Walls, where John XXIII first announced the Council, an ecumenical prayer service is held to promote Christian unity.
December 6, 1965 Pope Paul issues a motu proprio inaugurating the reform of the Roman Curia.
December 7, 1965 The following documents are promulgated: Declaration on Religious Freedom; Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests; Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity; and, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. At Istanbul and Vatican City, a joint declaration lifts the mutual excommunications between Greeks and Latins (1054).
December 8, 1965 The Second Vatican Ecumenical Council solemnly closes at Saint Peter’s Square. The messages addressed to various sectors of society are read.
November 28-December 8, 1985 An extraordinary synod of bishops is held on the twentieth anniversary of the close of Vatican II to study and promote the fruits of the Council.
September 3, 2000 Pope John XXIII, “Pope of Vatican II,” is beatified.
May 1, 2011 Pope John Paul II, a participant in Vatican II, is beatified.
April 27, 2014 Popes John XXIII and John Paul II are canonized by Pope Francis. Saint John XXIII feast day is fixed on October 11, anniversary of the opening of the Council in 1962.
October 14, 2018 Pope Paul VI, beatified in 2014, is canonized by Pope Francis; feast day is fixed on May 29.
June 29, 2022 Pope Francis asks Catholics worldwide to study the documents of Vatican II, especially the four constitutions, in preparation for the Holy Year in 2025.
James H. Kroeger, MM, served mission in Asia for over five decades; recently he authored Walking with Pope Francis; The Official Documents in Everyday Language (Paulines, Manila–2023) and A Joyful Journey with Pope Francis (Claretians, Manila– 2024).
