Exploring Vatican II Treasures: Actors, Events, Insights

Commemorating the sixtieth anniversary of the closing of the momentous Second Vatican Council (1965–2025), this book presents fifty short vignettes that capture pivotal moments of the greatest religious event of the twentieth century.

Indeed, this twenty-first universal council profoundly renewed the Catholic Church, providing a compass to guide her for succeeding decades.

These “appetizers” are designed to attract readers to “taste” and explore the profound wisdom of the Council. As brief summaries, they seek to faithfully capture the highlights of the sixteen documents promulgated by the Council, which have not lost their relevance for our contemporary world.

Pope Francis has consistently encouraged Catholics to return to the insights of the Council. On the sixtieth anniversary of the opening of Vatican II (1962–2022), Francis said, “Let us return to the Council’s pure sources of love. Let us rediscover the Council’s passion and renew our own passion for the Council.”

We join Pope Francis in faith and prayer: “How timely the Council remains! We thank you, Lord, for the gift of the Council.”