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On September 29, 1963, Pope Paul VI opened the second period of the Second Vatican Council, popularly known as Vatican II. Vatican II began in 1962 and did not officially end until 1968. It was the most ambitious reform and renewal of the Catholic Church since the Counter Reformation 500 years earlier.Vatican II expanded the Catholic Church’s reconciliation and public outreach to members of other faiths, including Eastern Orthodox and Protestant denominations. Its teachings allowed Catholics to pray with other Christians and encouraged Catholics to respect and form friendships with people of other faiths. Vatican II also expanded the role of everyday Catholics—the laity, not just priests and bishops—in religious activities.
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Term Part of Speech Definition Encyclopedic Entry ambitious Adjective eager to achieve wealth, power, status, or a specific goal.
bishop Noun leader of a church's diocese.
Catholic Adjective having to do with the Christian denomination with the Pope as its leader.
Christian Noun people and culture focused on the teachings of Jesus and his followers.
congregation Noun group of people who worship at the same church.
council Noun group of people selected to act in an advisory, administrative, or legislative capacity.
Counter Reformation Noun (1545-1648) spiritual, social, and political response of the Catholic Church to the Protestant Reformation.
denomination Noun branch of a church or larger spiritual faith.
Eastern Orthodox Noun loose affiliation of several Christian denominations (including Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, etc.) which follow early church hierarchy.
encourage Verb to inspire or support a person or idea.
expand Verb to grow or get larger.
laity Noun all members of a religious organization that are not members of the clergy, or official leadership.
language Noun set of sounds, gestures, or symbols that allows people to communicate.
Latin Noun language of ancient Rome and the Roman Empire.
mass Noun central act of worship in the Catholic Church.
outcome Noun result.
pope Noun leader of the Catholic Church.
pray Verb to offer praise, worship, or other appeal to a spiritual deity.
priest Noun title of religious leader in many faiths.
prior Adjective before or ahead of.
Protestant Noun Christian who is not a follower of Catholic or Orthodox faiths.
public outreach Noun program by an organization to connect its work to other organizations or the general public.
reconciliation Noun process of accepting or no longer being opposed to something.
reform noun, verb change or improvement of a policy or process.
renew Verb to restore or begin again.
Vatican Noun authority and leadership of the pope and the Catholic Church.