Vatican Council, Second

 ; Vatican Council II

   This term refers to the ecumenical or general council of the Roman Catholic Church that was convened by Pope John XXIII (1958-1963) and continued under Pope Paul VI (1963-1978). Vatican Council II, which met from 1962 to 1965, provided for an aggiornamento (updating) of Roman Catholic teaching and practice, especially in such areas as liturgy, ministry, religious liberty, ecumenism, and interreligious dialogue.