Recently there has been a lot of talk about Vatican II, especially during the recent Synod on Synodality, called by Pope Francis. As someone who converted to Catholicism shortly before the beginning of Vatican II, I feel it changed the Church, my life, and probably yours.

I’d like to start with three experiences in the life of Angelo Roncalli (Pope John XXIII) that shaped his understanding of the purpose of Vatican II:

Based on Gaudet Mater Ecclesia (Praise Mother Church), John XXIII opening address at the beginning of Vatican II on October 11, 1962, I would say three of Roncalli’s experiences that helped to shape his purpose for calling the Council in January 1959, were:

1. The “doom and gloom” predictions of the world during those times which seemed to predict that the Church was doomed and perhaps the world itself was doomed. The fact that many bishops were not in attendance saddened the Pope as he wished for all to share in the joyful optimism he felt towards the outcome of this Council.

2. His desire for ecumenism, I believe came about from his experience in Turkey living among Muslims must have influenced his desire to share the Church throughout the world as Jesus commanded his disciple to do, while being tolerant of other peoples and other religions. He called his time in Turkey, “the best ten years of my life.” And I believe this experience opened his heart to the true meaning of Jesus’ command to welcome the “strangers in our land”

3. His devotion to the Church, along with his knowledge of and devotion to Jesus, the Apostles and those who followed after them, the early Church fathers, and the councils that came before convinced him that we needed to return to some of the early practices of the Church and restore it to what Jesus meant it to be, a church of both suffering, but more so one of triumph.

Three elements of my own experience that shaped my understanding of Vatican II and, in turn, how my life was shaped by it:

1. The third incident was not until 1971 when our parish got a new pastor who was in seminary just before Vatican II and ordained in 1961, so his early priesthood was shaped by Vatican II, and he brought my parish out of the past and into a new future, as John XXIII did for the worldwide Church. This pastor introduced me to, in addition to some of the theologians I was reading, men like Thomas Merton, Saint Francis, and Teilhard de Chardin, which expanded my faith and reason as I believe Vatican II did for all those who listened. I was friends with this priest for fifty years until he died early this year.

   cause by the time it started, I was eagerly devouring books like Augustine’s Confessions and City of God, so I could really understand the faith I embraced. I entered the Church on faith alone, but wanted to boost my faith with reason; therefore, I was happy to hear by the end of the Council that there would be an increase in the role of the laity, that the Church would be more tolerant of other faiths (I was actually told that once I became Catholic I could never enter another church building, which gave me nightmares of being excommunicated for entering my former Lutheran church for a wedding or some other occasion.)

2. The other thing that shaped me was that as the Council began, I was in the hospital having my third child during the Cuban Missile Crisis and didn’t know if I would bring that child home to meet his older sisters. It was a frightening time, and although I was too busy raising a family to focus on the Council, I now understand the Pope’s desire to get rid of the gloom and doom predictors of the world and make the Church a joyful place.

3. The third incident was not until 1971 when our parish got a new pastor who was in seminary just before Vatican II and ordained in 1961, so his early priesthood was shaped by Vatican II, and he brought my parish out of the past and into a new future, as John XXIII did for the worldwide Church. This pastor introduced me to, in addition to some of the theologians I was reading, men like Thomas Merton, Saint Francis of Assisi, and Teilhard de Chardin, which expanded my faith and reason as I believe Vatican II did for all those who listened. I was friends with this priest for fifty years until he died last year.

Whether you are new to the Church, have been a life-long Catholic (by the way I really never use the term, “Cradle Catholic,” because non one knows what their religious beliefs are the instant they are born) , or are a member of any other world religion, I believe Vatican II had an influence on you as well. I would invite your comments about this topic by answering some of these questions:

1. Do you remember Vatican II and, if so, what impact did its implementation have on your faith life?

2. Do you think it’s time for Vatican III?

3. What changes would you like to see in the Catholic Church?

4. If you are a member of a non-Christian religion, or a Protestant denomination, or a person that considers themselves non-religious, how do you think we can further Ecumenism and cooperation in our world today?