To celebrate the Jubilee Year 2025, the Dicastery for Evangelization has published ‘Council Notebooks’, reflecting on Vatican II. The Indian edition, from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, consists of 35 concise volumes, serving as a handy resource to understand the council’s significance in 20th-century Church history. Aimed at reintroducing Vatican II to younger generations, Volume I, by Elio Guerrierro, focuses on its history and reforms, featuring insightful excerpts from Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI. This article presents a summary of the contents of Council Notebooks Volume 1 for our study.
History of Vatican II
After Pope Pius XII’s death, Cardinal Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli became Pope John XXIII. Surprisingly, in 1958, shortly after his election, he announced plans to convene an Ecumenical Council, gathering bishops worldwide. This unexpected move, declared on January 25, 1959, marked a significant departure from the norm in the Catholic Church, stirring both anticipation and curiosity.
Sr Shalini Xavier CTC
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