Q: Why did Pope John XXIII convoke Vatican Council II? By Arch-Legend DE Marie Q: Why did Pope John XXIII convoke Vatican Council II? A: His intention in convoking Vatican Council II as the twenty-first worldwide council(a council of the bishops of the entire Church) was to renew the life of the Church, to reform structuresand institutions that needed updating, and to discover ways and means of promotingunity among all Christians. Pope John used the Italian word aggiornamento in stating his purpose for Vatican Council II. Its general meaning is "to bring up to date," "to renew,""to revitalize." The word is descriptive of the processes of spiritual renewal and institutional reform and change in the Church judged necessary by Vatican CouncilII. In his opening speech to the Ecumenical Council of Vatican II, Pope John said that the first need in calling the council was "toassert once again the Magisterium, which is unfailing andperdures untilthe end of time." The"magisterium" means the teaching authority of the Church.How unfortunate that, after this council, the magisterium, the teaching authority of the Church,was so often ignored even by some who said they spoke"in thespirit of Vatican II" or the "spirit of Pope John." In calling the council, Pope John noted that he looked to the past, to listen to its voice. He declared that it wasthe principalduty of the council to defend andto advance the truth. The councilwas to be loyal to the sacred patrimony of truth, asreceived from the fathers, but to see ever new avenues by which to take thesame, true faith of Christ to the world. He insisted that the Catholic Church would continue to oppose errors, but that its opposition must be treated with the medicine of mercy rather than that of severity. He sought ever greaterunity in sanctity, and great joy inthe eventual union of all the Christian churches of the world. Thus the reform and change thatPope John sought in calling the council was in no way to change the faith and morals of the Catholic Church.His idea was to develop no new doctrine but a new way to make the constant unchangeable faith in Christ — as given the apostles in the sacred deposit of faith — ever more effective in the lives of people and for the evangelization of theentire world.