The importance of the Second Vatican Council

The Second Vatican Council was the most important religious event of the twentieth century, since on the initiative of SS John XXIII, a Council was convened for 1962 (only 20 councils have been held throughout history) for the Church to open up to the world, and do a general awareness test to adapt the presentation of the Evangelical Message to modern times. All the Christian churches, especially the Orthodox ones, participated and the message of the Council covered all the hot topics in the world, from the arming, to the proclamation of the dignity of all people, all being equal before God. Thereafter the Church sees the "world" not as a bad thing (according to some ancient catechisms), but as a good thing, that God has been created.

What has changed since the Council?

Without changing its principles of faith, nor dogmas, the Second Vatican Council sought to explain the faith, making it more understandable for modern man. It was a pastoral council, in which the liturgy was modified, using the language of each nation. It was affirmed that holiness is not a matter of bishops, religious, friars or priests, but that it concerns all the faithful. The Council is a universal call to holiness (Lumen Gentium, 40-42). Enhancing the role of the laity, the laity in the Church, giving them back a leading role that they had already had in the time of the Apostles, but that over time had been restricted only to the celibates who consecrated themselves to God.