#174 - The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)
From Why Catholic? by Justin Hibbard
March 24, 2026 · 22 min · Episode 175
About this episode
Justin Hibbard examines the Second Vatican Council, discussing its significance, attendees, power dynamics, decisions, and the criticisms it has faced.
Justin Hibbard continues our series on the 21 Ecumenical Councils by examining the 21st and most recent ecumenical council. Why was this by far the largest ecumenical council? Who beyond the Bishops attended this council? How did the council fathers wrestle power away from the Curia? What decisions did it make? How did it call for liturgical reforms? And why has Vatican II received a bad rap? SOCIAL LINKS * Follow Why Catholic on Instagram. * Subscribe to Why Catholic on YouTube. * Follow Justin on Facebook. SOURCES: * Papal Encyclicals: The Second Vatican Ecumenical Council * The Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church: A History by Joseph Kelly * Video: General Councils 15: Vatican II - Fr Timothy Matkin - St Francis Dallas * Timeline of Vatican II * Vatican News: An Overview of the Second Vatican Council * A Pastoral and Dogmatic Council PREVIOUS EPISODES IN THIS SERIES * Episode 146: Introduction to the 21 Ecumenical Councils * Episode 147: The World that Led to the Council of Nicaea * Episode 148: The First Council of Nicaea (325) * Episode 149: From Nicaea to Constantinople * Episode 150: The First Council of Constantinople (381) * Episode 151: The Council of Ephesus…
People in this episode
Host: Justin Hibbard
Topics covered
- Ecumenical Councils
- Vatican II
- Liturgical Reforms
- Church History
- Catholicism
Keywords
- Vatican II
- Ecumenical Council
- liturgical reforms
- Catholic Church
- church history
- curia
- council fathers
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Vatican News
Books & works: The Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church: A History
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