The Vatican council and its definitions: a pastoral letter to the clergy

The Vatican Council, sometimes called Vatican II, is the twentieth Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church. Under Pope John XXIII, who convened the council, it had planned to discuss how to better relate to other religions and cultures. However, the same issues continued to be discussed as in previous councils. Over 3200 bishops, there were also many cardinals and lay people present at the council. The council discussed many topics including interfaith dialogue, ecumenism, sexual morality, social justice mores. Henry Edward, a priest of the Catholic Church, looks to the Vatican Council and its definitions in order to provide a pastoral letter to the clergy.