When was Vatican II?
Second Vatican Council
Pope John XXIII, however, gave notice of his intention to convene the Council on 25 January 1959, less than three months after his election in October 1958.[11] This sudden announcement, which caught the Curia by surprise, caused little initial official comment from Church insiders. Reaction to the announcement was widespread and largely positive from both religious and secular leaders outside the Catholic Church,[12] and the council was formally summoned by the apostolic constitution Humanae Salutis on 25 December 1961.[13][14] In various discussions before the Council convened, John XXIII said that it was time to "open the windows [of the Church] and let in some fresh air."[15] He invited other Christians outside the Catholic Church to send observers to the Council. Acceptances came from both the Eastern Orthodox Church and Protestant denominations as internal observers, but these observers did not cast votes in the approbation of the conciliar documents.[16][lower-alpha 1]