In 1962, the Second Vatican Council, also known as Vatican II, was opened by Pope John XXIII to discuss how the Roman Catholic Church could be modernized. As part of this event, Pope John XXII created the Humanae Salutis, which he had written several months prior. In this letter, he discussed the need for the Catholic Church to take a closer look at the modern world and try to adapt to the changing times.
What Was In the Humanae Salutis?
The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) was a major event in the Roman Catholic in the 20th century and was convened by Pope John XXIII. This came about due to the rapidly changing world. From the Cold War to the end of colonialism, it seemed like everything was happening and the council was aimed at addressing the Church’s role in this world. With how much was happening, it became more important than ever for the church to adapt to the situation.
That is why the council began working on promoting unity among Christians and renewing Catholic doctrine to modernize it. Among the things they changed included the adoption of the local language for Mass instead of Latin.
This council came about with Pope John XXIII’s letter, the Humanae Salutis. He sent this letter out on Christmas Day of the previous year. In the Humanae Salutis, he outlines how the church must open itself to dialogue with the secular world, being a bastion of peace and spirituality in a world that was becoming increasingly violent.
Among the key issues that the Vatican Council brought up were religious freedoms, improving relationships with non-Christians, and a strong focus on ecumenism. The decisions of the council, sparked by this monumental letter, have had a lasting impact on the Church’s approach to modernity.
Parts of the Humanae Salutis can be seen here.
“The forthcoming council will meet, therefore, for the purpose of confirming the Church’s teaching authority and its missionary duty, of instructing more fully and deeply, and of fixing its discipline in conformity with its doctrine.”
-Pope John XXIII, Former Pope.
This is far from the first time a pope’s words changed the world. Throughout its existence, the Pope has been able to create life-changing treaties and declarations like Pope Urban’s call for a Crusade or Pope Alexander’s Treaty of Tordesillas that divided the world.
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