Vatican II and the Jewish People

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, following the debacle of the Catholic Church's relationship to the Jewish people during World War II, the main source of the dramatic changes in this relationship was the Second Vatican Council, the twenty-first ecumenical meeting held from 1962 to 1965 called by Pope John XXIII. The author points out that the most pivotal parts of the Vatican Council were (1) the ecumenical movement to find common bonds by remembering spiritually the ties with the people of "the New Covenant to Abraham's stock" and (2) the focusing on the status of the Jewish people in relation to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in which the Catholic Church redeemed itself of the conflicts associated with the Jewish people. The paper concludes that the achievements of Vatican II brought about great changes in the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people, all due to efforts of Popes John XXIII and Paul VI. Quotations.

From the Paper:

"Of course, Pope John XXIII's call for this ecumenical council was quite unusual, for it was only designated during times of great crisis in the church. The last Vatican Council had occurred in 1869, but this new council, at least in the eyes of many Catholics, was uncalled for, due to most not recognizing the urgent need for reform. But John XXIII clearly knew that such a council was required, for he recognized that the church was facing new problems as a result of World War II. He also understood that the church was no longer an institution wholly based in Europe but a worldwide entity, composed of diverse cultures from all areas of the globe. Thus, by convening this new council, the pope made it possible for discussions between Catholics and non-Catholics and created much-needed unity which, in the end, would help the church and its leaders to better understand and appreciate the vast cultural differences within the global community."

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