History of the Catholic Church (1962–present)

For a broader perspective, see History of the Catholic Church.

The post–Vatican II history of the Catholic Church is the recent history of the Catholic Church since the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965).

## Background

[edit]

In the aftermath of World War II, religious existence came under fire from communist governments in Eastern Europe and China.[1] Although some priests have since been exposed as collaborators,[2][3] both the Church's official resistance and the leadership of Pope John Paul II are credited with helping to bring about the downfall of communist governments across Europe in 1991.[1][4]

The Church policies after World War II under Pope Pius XII focused on material aid to war-torn Europe, an internal internationalization of the Roman Catholic Church and the development of its worldwide diplomatic relations. His encyclicals, Evangelii praecones and Fidei donum, issued on June 2, 1951, and April 21, 1957, respectively, increased the local decision-making of Catholic missions, many of which became independent dioceses. Pius XII demanded recognition of local cultures as fully equal to European culture.[5][6] In 1957, the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association was established.

Pius XII invoked ex cathedra papal infallibility by defining the dogma of the Assumption of Mary, as proclaimed in the Apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus. His forty-one encyclicals include Mystici corporis, on the Church as the Body of Christ; Mediator Dei on liturgy reform; Humani generis on the Church's position on theology and evolution. He eliminated the Italian majority in the College of Cardinals with the consistory of 1946.

Pius XII was succeeded by John XXIII.

## Vatican II

[edit]

Main article: Second Vatican Council

### Sessions

[edit]

See also: Error has no rights

Part of a series on the
Ecumenical councils
of the Catholic Church

Renaissance depiction of the Council of Trent

4th–5th centuries

* Nicaea I (325)
* Constantinople I (381)
* Ephesus (431)
* Chalcedon (451)

6th–9th centuries

* Constantinople II (553)
* Constantinople III (680–681)
* Nicaea II (787)
* Constantinople IV (869–870)

12th–14th centuries

* Lateran I (1123)
* Lateran II (1139)
* Lateran III (1179)
* Lateran IV (1215)
* Lyon I (1245)
* Lyon II (1274)
* Vienne (1311–1312)

15th–16th centuries

* Constance (1414–1418)
* Basel-Ferrara-Florence (1431–1445)
* Lateran V (1512–1517)
* Trent (1545–1563)

19th–20th centuries

* Vatican I (1869–1870)
* Vatican II (1962–1965)

Catholic Church portal

* v
* t
* e

Two-thousand nine-hundred and eight (2,908) men (referred to as Council Fathers) were entitled to seats at the council. These included all bishops from around the world, as well as many superiors of male religious institutes. 2,540 took part in the opening session, making it the largest gathering in any council in church history. (This compares to Vatican I where 737 attended, mostly from Europe.)[7] Attendance varied in later sessions from 2,100 to over 2,300. In addition, a varying number of periti (Latin for "experts") were available for theological consultation—a group that turned out to have a major influence as the council went forward. Seventeen Orthodox Churches and Protestant denominations sent observers.[8] More than three dozen representatives of other Christian communities were present at the opening session, and the number grew to nearly 100 by the end of the 4th Council Session.

The Catholic Church engaged in a comprehensive process of reform following the Second Vatican Council (1962–65).[9] Intended as a continuation of Vatican I, under Pope John XXIII the council developed into an engine of modernisation.[9] It was tasked with making the historical teachings of the Church clear to a modern world, and made pronouncements on topics including the nature of the church, the mission of the laity and religious freedom.[9] The council asked for a revision of the liturgy and permitted the Latin liturgical rites to use vernacular languages as well as Latin during mass and other sacraments.[10] Efforts by the Church to improve Christian unity became a priority.[11] In addition to finding common ground on certain issues with Protestant churches, the Catholic Church has discussed the possibility of unity with the Eastern Orthodox Church.[12]

## Post–Vatican II history

[edit]

### Liturgy reforms

[edit]

See also: Mass of Paul VI and Preconciliar rites after the Second Vatican Council

Changes to old rites, ceremonies and church architecture following Vatican II stunned many Catholics, who spoke of it as Wreckovation. Some stopped going to church, while others tried to preserve the old liturgy with the help of sympathetic priests.[13] The latter formed the basis of today's Traditionalist Catholic groups, which believe that the reforms of Vatican II have gone too far in departing from traditional church norms, particularly with regard to changes made to the Mass. Liberal Catholics form another dissenting group.

Liberal Catholics typically take a less literal view of the Bible and of divine revelation, and sometimes disagree with official Church views on social and political issues. The most famous liberal theologian of recent times has been Hans Küng, whose unorthodox views of the incarnation, and his denials of infallibility led to Church withdrawal of his authorization to teach as a Catholic in 1979.[14] In his book A Concise History of the Catholic Church, professor Thomas Bokenkotter commented on the situation by stating "Most Catholics, however, accepted the changes more or less gracefully but with little enthusiasm and have learned to take in stride the continuing series of changes that have modified not only the Mass but the other sacraments as well."[13] In 2007, with his apostolic letter Summorum Pontificum, Benedict XVI reinstated the Tridentine mass as an option, to be celebrated upon request by the faithful.[15]

In 2021, Pope Francis published Traditionis custodes, instating limitations on the Tridentine mass.

### Liberation theology

[edit]

See also: Theology of Pope Francis § Liberation theology

In the 1960s, growing social awareness and politicization in the Latin American Church gave birth to liberation theology. It re-interpreted the Gospel in radical ways that redefined the Church's mission. Peruvian priest, Gustavo Gutiérrez, became one of the movement's better-known scholars.[16] A meeting of Latin American bishops in 1968, charged with the implementation of Vatican II, led to the new movement growing increasingly influential. In 1979, the subsequent bishops' conference in Mexico officially declared the Latin American Church's "preferential option for the poor".[17] Salvadoran Archbishop Óscar Romero became the region's most famous contemporary martyr in 1980, when he was murdered while saying mass by forces allied with the government.[18] Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have denounced the movement as dangerous and "a fundamental threat to the faith of the church"[19] because, as Edward Norman explains, the Church considers it an attempt to establish a Christian society "through the coercive machinery of political management".[20] The Brazilian theologian Leonardo Boff was twice ordered to cease publishing and teaching.[21] While Pope John Paul II was criticized for his severity in dealing with proponents of the movement, he maintained that the Church, in its efforts to champion the poor, should not do so by resorting to violence or partisan politics.[16] The movement is still alive in Latin America today, though the Church now faces the challenge of Pentecostal revival in much of the region.[22]

### Humanae Vitae

[edit]

The sexual revolution of the 1960s brought challenging issues for the Church. Pope Paul VI's 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae affirmed the sanctity of life from conception to natural death and rejected the use of contraception; both abortion and euthanasia were considered to be murder.[23][24] The Church's rejection of the use of condoms has provoked criticism, especially with respect to countries where AIDS and HIV have attained epidemic proportions. The Church maintains that countries like Kenya, where behavioral changes are endorsed instead of condom use, have experienced greater progress towards controlling the disease than countries solely promoting condoms.[25]

### Role of women

[edit]

Main articles: Catholic Church and women and Spiritus Domini (Pope Francis)

See also: Theology of Pope Francis § Roles for women

Efforts in support of the Catholic ordination of women led to a ruling against it in 1976 by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (Declaration on the Question of the Admission of Women to the Ministerial Priesthood). Pope John Paul II later issued two documents to explain Church teaching. Mulieris Dignitatem was issued in 1988 to clarify women's equally important and complementary role in the work of the Church.[26][27] Then in 1994, Ordinatio Sacerdotalis explained that the Church only extends ordination to men in order to follow the example of Jesus, who chose only men for this specific duty.[28][29][30] The group Roman Catholic Womenpriests began performing ordination ceremonies for women in 2002, the validity of which is nonexistent, as the Church has issued orders of excommunication for any and all participants, invalidating any Sacraments issued by them.

### Capital punishment

[edit]

Further information: Catholic Church and capital punishment

John Paul II then set the Church in opposition to capital punishment when he issued Evangelium Vitae in 1995. Explaining that execution was appropriate when it was the only way to defend society, the pope noted that the modern penal system made this option rare or nonexistent.[31]

On 2 August 2018, it was announced that the Catechism of the Catholic Church would be revised to state that the Church teaches that "the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person".[32][33] A full letter to the bishops regarding the change stated that it was consistent with the previous teachings of the Catholic Church regarding the dignity of human life, and that it reflected how modern society had better prison systems with a goal of criminal rehabilitation that made the death penalty unnecessary for the protection of innocent people.[34] Within two weeks, 45 Catholic scholars and clergy signed an appeal to the cardinals of the Catholic Church, calling on them to advise Pope Francis to retract the recent revision made to the Catechism,[35] on the grounds that its appearance of contradicting scripture and traditional teaching is causing scandal.

### US sex abuse cases

[edit]

Mainly in the United States, several major lawsuits emerged in 2001 claiming that priests had sexually abused minors.[36] Some priests resigned, others were defrocked and jailed[37] and financial settlements were agreed to with many victims.[36] In the US, where the vast majority of sex abuse cases occurred, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops commissioned a comprehensive study that found that four percent of all priests who served in the US from 1950 to 2002 faced some sort of sexual accusation.[38] Further, the Church was widely criticized when it emerged that some bishops had known about abuse allegations, and reassigned many of the accused after first sending them to psychiatric counseling, instead of removing them.[36][39][40] Some bishops and psychiatrists contended that the prevailing psychology of the times suggested that people could be cured of such behavior through counseling.[39][41] Pope John Paul II responded by declaring that "there is no place in the priesthood and religious life for those who would harm the young".[42] The US Church instituted reforms to prevent future abuse by requiring background checks for Church employees;[43] and, because the vast majority of victims were teenage boys, the worldwide Church also prohibited the ordination of men with "deep–seated homosexual tendencies".[41][44] It now requires dioceses faced with an allegation to alert the authorities, conduct an investigation and remove the accused from duty.[43][45] In 2008, Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, head of the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy, affirmed that the scandal was an "exceptionally serious" problem, but estimated that it was "probably caused by 'no more than 1 per cent'" of the over 400,000 Catholic priests worldwide.[38] Some commentators, such as journalist Jon Dougherty, have argued that media coverage of the issue has been excessive, given that the same problems plague other institutions such as the US public school system with much greater frequency.[46]

### Benedict XVI

[edit]

See also: Regensburg lecture

In 2007, Benedict XVI reverted the decision of his predecessor regarding the conduct of papal elections by the changing the §75 of Universi Dominici gregis.[47] The same year, he approved the beatification of 498 Spanish Martyrs. His first encyclical Deus caritas est discussed the nature of love and how it informs one's participation in a just society.[48] In an address at the university of Regensburg, Germany,[49] Benedict maintained that in the Western world, to a large degree, only positivistic reason and philosophy are valid. Yet the world's profoundly religious cultures see this exclusion of the divine, as an attack on their most profound convictions. A concept of  reason which excludes the divine, is incapable of entering into the dialogue of cultures, according to Benedict.[50] After the Pope explained his quote,[51] the dialogue continued, with cordial meetings of Islam representatives in Turkey, and the ambassadors of Muslim countries in 2007. A May 2008 declaration agreed on between Benedict and Muslims, led by Mahdi Mostafavi, stressed that religion is essentially non-violent and that violence can be justified neither by reason nor by faith.[52] He spoke strongly against drug dealers in Latin America[53] and Catholic politicians supporting abortion laws.[54]

#### Ethical rulings

[edit]

See also: Theology of Pope Francis § Primacy of charity

In 2007, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith clarified the Catholic Church's position vis-a-vis other Christian communities. Quoting the statement of Pope Paul VI: "What the Church has taught down through the centuries, we also teach: that there is only one Church", the Vatican insisted that while communities separated from the Catholic Church can be instruments of salvation, only those with apostolic succession can be properly termed "churches".[55] Some Protestant representatives were not surprised; others announced themselves insulted by the document, which also stressed the Church's commitment to ecumenical dialogue. A Church official told Vatican radio that any dialogue is facilitated when parties are clear about their identity.[56] Important ethical decisions during the pontificate of Benedict XVI involved continued nutrition and hydration for persons in a vegetative status. While making many exceptions, the Church ruled that "the provision of water and food, even by artificial means, always represents a natural means for preserving life."[57]

### Pope Francis

[edit]

Main article: Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI

See also: Pope Francis

See also: Theology of Pope Francis

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021)

|

## See also

[edit]

* Criticism of the Catholic Church
* Glossary of the Catholic Church
* History of Christianity
* History of the Papacy
* History of Western civilization
* Index of Catholic Church articles
* Index of Vatican City-related articles
* John Paul II
* Outline of Catholicism
* Role of the Catholic Church in civilization
* Second Vatican Council
* Timeline of the Catholic Church

## Footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Pope Stared Down Communism in Homeland – and Won". CBC News. April 2005. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
2. ^ Smith, Craig S. (2007-01-06). "Ties to Communist Secret Police Snare Polish Bishop". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
3. ^ "Slovak Church Plans to Review Its Past 50 Years". The New York Times. 2007-02-14. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
4. ^ Smith, Craig (2007-01-10). "In Poland, New Wave of Charges Against Clerics". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-23.
5. ^ Audience for the directors of mission activities in 1944 A.A.S., 1944, p. 208.
6. ^ Evangelii praecones. p. 56.
7. ^ Sullivan 2002, p.21
8. ^ "Vatican Council II", New Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. XIV, p. 563
9. ^ a b c Duffy, Saints and Sinners (1997), p. 270–6
10. ^ Paul VI, Pope (1963-12-04). "Sacrosanctum Concilium". Vatican. Archived from the original on 2008-02-21. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
11. ^ Duffy, Saints and Sinners (1987), p. 274
12. ^ "Roman Catholic-Eastern Orthodox Dialogue". Public Broadcasting Service. 2000-07-14. Archived from the original on 2013-03-10. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
13. ^ a b Bokenkotter, A Concise History of the Catholic Church (2004), p. 410
14. ^ Bauckham, Richard, in New Dictionary of Theology, Ed. Ferguson, (1988), p. 373
15. ^ Apostolic Letter "Motu Proprio data" Summorum Pontificum on the use of the Roman Liturgy prior to the reform of 1970 (July 7, 2007)
16. ^ a b "Liberation Theology". BBC. 2005. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
17. ^ Aguilar, Mario (2007). The History and Politics of Latin American Theology, Volume 1. London: SCM Press. p. 31\. ISBN 978-0-334-04023-1.
18. ^ For more on Romero, by a former colleague, see Sobrino, Jon (1990). Archbishop Romero: Memories and Reflections. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis. ISBN 978-0-88344-667-6.
19. ^ Rohter, Larry (2007-05-07). "As Pope Heads to Brazil, a Rival Theology Persists". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-02-21. Benedict's main involvement in dealing with liberation theology was while he was still Cardinal Ratzinger.
20. ^ Norman, The Roman Catholic Church: An Illustrated History (2007), pp. 176–7
21. ^ Aguilar, Mario (2007). The History and Politics of Latin American Theology, Volume 1. London: SCM Press. p. 121\. ISBN 978-0-334-04023-1.
22. ^ For liberation theology's persistence, see Rohter, Larry (2007-05-07). "As Pope Heads to Brazil, a Rival Theology Persists". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-06-02. For the threat from Pentecostalism, see Stoll, David (1690). Is Latin America turning Protestant?: The Politics of Evangelical Growth. Berkeley: University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-520-06499-7. `{{cite book}}`: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
23. ^ Paul VI, Pope (1968). "Humanae Vitae". Vatican. Archived from the original on 2011-03-03. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
24. ^ Norman, The Roman Catholic Church an Illustrated History (2007), p. 184
25. ^ Dugger, Carol (2006-05-18). "Why is Kenya's AIDS rate plummeting?". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
26. ^ John Paul II, Pope (1988). "Mulieris Dignitatem". Vatican. Archived from the original on 2007-01-07. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
27. ^ Bokenkotter, A Concise History of the Catholic Church (2004), p. 467
28. ^ Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth (2008), pp. 180–1, quote: "The difference between the discipleship of the Twelve and the discipleship of the women is obvious; the tasks assigned to each group are quite different. Yet Luke makes clear—and the other Gospels also show this in all sorts of ways—that 'many' women belonged to the more intimate community of believers and that their faith—filled following of Jesus was an essential element of that community, as would be vividly illustrated at the foot of the Cross and the Resurrection."
29. ^ John Paul II, Pope (1994-05-22). "Apostolic Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men Alone". Vatican. Archived from the original on 2012-01-18. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
30. ^ Cowell, Alan (1994-05-31). "Pope Rules Out Debate On Making Women Priests". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
31. ^ "The Death Penalty Pro and Con: The Pope's Statement". PBS. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
32. ^ "New revision of number 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the death penalty – Rescriptum 'ex Audentia SS.mi'". Summary of Bulletin. Holy See Press Office. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
33. ^ Winfield, Nicole (2 August 2018). "Pope Francis changes Catholic teaching on death penalty, now 'inadmissible' in all circumstances". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
34. ^ "Letter to the Bishops regarding the new revision of number 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the death penalty, from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith". Summary of Bulletin. Holy See Press Office. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
35. ^ Various (Aug 15, 2018). "An Appeal to the Cardinals of the Catholic Church". First Things.
36. ^ a b c Bruni, A Gospel of Shame (2002), p. 336
37. ^ Newman, Andy (2006-08-31). "A Choice for New York Priests in Abuse Cases". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
38. ^ a b Owen, Richard (2008-01-07). "Pope calls for continuous prayer to rid priesthood of paedophilia". Times Online UK edition. Times Newspapers Ltd. Archived from the original on January 9, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
39. ^ a b Steinfels, A People Adrift (2003). pp. 40–6
40. ^ Frawley-ODea, Perversion of Power: Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church (2007), p. 4
41. ^ a b Filteau, Jerry (2004). "Report says clergy sexual abuse brought 'smoke of Satan' into church". Catholic News Service. Archived from the original on 2004-06-26. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
42. ^ Walsh, John Paul II: A Light for the World (2003), p. 62
43. ^ a b United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (2005). "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved 2007-10-08.
44. ^ Pope Benedict XVI (2005). "Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders". Vatican. Archived from the original on 2008-02-25. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
45. ^ "Scandals in the church: The Bishops' Decisions; The Bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People". The New York Times. 2002-06-15. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
46. ^ Shakeshaft, Charol (2004). "Educator Sexual Misconduct" (PDF). US Department of Education. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
47. ^ Moto Proprio, De Aliquibus Mutationibus, June 11, 2007
48. ^ Deus caritas est
49. ^ Quoted as Benedict XVI, Meeting with the representatives of science in the Aula Magna of the University of Regensburg (September 12, 2006), Vatican, 2006. source: "Meeting with the representatives of science at the University of Regensburg". Archived from the original on 2012-06-22. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
50. ^ Benedict XVI, Meeting with the representatives of science in the Aula Magna of the University of Regensburg (September 12, 2006)
51. ^ "Text of Pope's statement". BBC. 2006-09-17. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
52. ^ Kleiber, Reinhard (2008). "Iran and the Pope Easing Relations". Quantara. Archived from the original on December 31, 2010. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
53. ^ "Pope Benedict XVI: God Will Punish Drug Dealers". Fox News. 2007-05-12. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
54. ^ Pullella, Philip (2007-05-09). "Pope warns Catholic politicians who back abortion". Reuters. Archived from the original on May 12, 2007. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
55. ^ "Responses to questions regarding aspects of the doctrine of the Church". Vatican. 2007-07-10. Archived from the original on 2008-04-04. Retrieved 2008-06-28.
56. ^ Di Cadore, Lorenago (2007-07-10). "Pope: Other denominations not true churches". NBC News. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
57. ^ United States Conference of Catholic Bishops ... Responses to Certain Questions Concerning Artificial Nutrition and Hydration, Congregation for the Doctrine ... www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/euthanas/index.shtml

### Sources

[edit]

* Duffy, Eamon (1997). Saints and Sinners, a History of the Popes. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-07332-4.
* Walsh, Mary Ann; Thavis, John (2003). John Paul II: A Light for the World, Essays and Reflections on the Papacy of. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-58051-142-1.
* Norman, Edward (2007). The Roman Catholic Church, An Illustrated History. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-25251-6.
* Steinfels, Peter (2003). A People Adrift: The Crisis of the Roman Catholic Church in America. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-684-83663-8.
* Bokenkotter, Thomas (2004). A Concise History of the Catholic Church. Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-385-50584-0.
* Bruni, Frank; Burkett, Elinor (2002). A Gospel of Shame: Children, Sexual Abuse, and the Catholic Church. Harper Perennial. p. 336\. ISBN 978-0-06-052232-2.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Aguilar, Mario (2007). The History and Politics of Latin American Theology, Volume 1. London: SCM Press. ISBN 978-0-334-04023-1.
* Dussel, Enrique (1981). A History of the Church in Latin America. Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN 978-0-8028-2131-7.
* Hitchcock, Susan Tyler; John Esposito (2004). Geography of Religion. National Geographic Society. ISBN 978-0-7922-7313-4.
* Koschorke, Klaus; Ludwig, Frieder; Delgado, Mariano (2007). A History of Christianity in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, 1450–1990. Wm B Eerdmans Publishing Co. ISBN 978-0-8028-2889-7.
* Langan, Thomas (1998). The Catholic Tradition. University of Missouri Press. ISBN 978-0-8262-6096-3.
* Leith, John (1963). Creeds of the Churches. Aldine Publishing Co. ISBN 978-0-664-24057-8. `{{cite book}}`: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
* McManners, John (1990). The Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-822928-5.
* Orlandis, Jose (1993). A Short History of the Catholic Church. Scepter Publishers. ISBN 978-1-85182-125-9.
* Pham, John Peter (2006). Heirs of the Fisherman: Behind the Scenes of Papal Death and Succession. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-517834-0.
* Samora, Julian; Simon, Patricia Vandel; Candelaria, Cordelia; Pulido, Alberto L (1993). A History of the Mexican-American People. University of Notre Dame Press. ISBN 978-0-268-01097-3.
* Schama, Simon (2003) [2000]. "Burning Convictions". A History of Britain 1: At the Edge of the World?. London: BBC Worldwide. pp. 309–11. ISBN 0-563-48714-3.
* Scruton, Roger (1996). A Dictionary of Political Thought. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-330-28099-0.
* Trower, Philip. Turmoil & Truth: The Historical Roots of the Modern Crisis in the Catholic Church Ignatius Press, 2003.
* Vidmar, John (2005). The Catholic Church Through the Ages. Paulist Press. ISBN 978-0-8091-4234-7.

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* Friedrich von Hügel
* Vladimir Solovyov
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* George Tyrrell
* Maurice Blondel
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20th century|

* G. K. Chesterton
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* Joseph Maréchal
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* Karl Rahner
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* Frederick Copleston
* Alfred Delp
* Edward Schillebeeckx
* Thomas Merton
* René Girard
* Hans Küng
* Johann Baptist Metz
* Jean Vanier
* Henri Nouwen

21st century|

* Pope John Paul II
* Alice von Hildebrand
* Carlo Maria Martini
* Pope Benedict XVI
* Gustavo Gutiérrez
* Alasdair MacIntyre
* Walter Kasper
* Raniero Cantalamessa
* Michał Heller
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* Aidan Nichols
* Scott Hahn

* Catholicism portal

* v
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Catholic Church

* Index
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History
Timeline
Ecclesiastical
Legal|

| Early Church|

* Jesus Christ
* Ministry
* Crucifixion
* Resurrection
* Great Commission
* Apostles
* Succession
* Petrine primacy
* Church Fathers
* Apostolic Fathers
* History of the papacy
* Primacy

|

Great Church|

* Ante-Nicene period
* Constantine
* First seven ecumenical councils
* Nicaea I
* Chalcedon
* Late antiquity
* Biblical canon
* Monasticism

Middle Ages|

* Islamic conquests
* Pope Gregory I
* Papal States
* Schism (1054)
* Investiture Controversy
* Crusades
* Schism (1378)
* Inquisition
* Universities
* Scholasticism
* Age of Discovery

Modern era|

* Protestantism
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* Catholic Reformation
* Trent
* Thirty Years' War
* Enlightenment
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* Communism
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* Islam
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Theology
Bible
Tradition
Catechism|

| General|

* God
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* Worship

|

Ecclesiology|

* Communitas perfecta
* Councils
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* One true church
* Catholic
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* People of God
* Three states
* Subsistit in
* In canon law

Sacraments|

* Baptism
* Confirmation
* Eucharist
* Penance
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* Last rites
* Holy orders
* Matrimony

Mariology|

* Assumption
* History
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* Mariology of the popes
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* Mother of God
* Perpetual virginity
* Veneration
* See also:
* Josephology

Philosophy|

* Natural law
* Moral theology
* Personalism
* Social teaching
* Philosophers
* Philosophy of canon law
* See also:
* Science
* Evolution
* Separation of church and state
* Relations
* Politics

Saints|

* Holy Family
* Mary
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* Patriarchs
* Prophets
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* Disciples
* Virgins

Organisation
Hierarchy
Canon law
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Precedence
By country|

| Holy See
(List of popes)|

* Pope Leo XIV
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* List
* Advisers
* Roman Curia
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* Properties

|

Vatican City|

* Index
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Polity (Holy orders)|

* Diocese
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* Major
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* Archbishop
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* Coadjutor
* Auxiliary
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* Deacon

Consecrated life|

* Religious:
* Superior
* Abbot, Abbess
* General
* Provincial
* Prior, Prioress
* Grand master
* Brother
* Friar
* Monk
* Sister
* Nun
* Hermit
* Novice
* Master
* Oblate
* Postulant

Particular churches
sui iuris|

* Latin Church
* Eastern Catholic Churches
* Albanian
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* Bulgarian
* Chaldean
* Coptic
* Croatian and Serbian
* Eritrean
* Ethiopian
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* Italo-Albanian
* Macedonian
* Maronite
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* Romanian
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* Syro-Malabar
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* Ukrainian

Catholic liturgy|

* Eastern Catholic liturgy
* Alexandrian
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* Armenian
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* East Syriac
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* Malankara
* Latin
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* Roman
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* Tridentine
* Anglican
* Zaire

Culture|

* Art
* Marian
* Artists
* Writers
* Church buildings
* Altarpieces
* Folk
* Library
* Museums
* Music
* Distinctions
* Role in civilisation
* See also:
* Criticism of the Catholic Church
* Anti-Catholicism

Media|

* Holy See Press Office
* Vatican Media
* Vatican News
* Vatican Television Center
* Vatican Radio
* Vatican Press [it]
* L'Osservatore Romano
* Acta Apostolicae Sedis
* Annuario Pontificio

Religious orders,
institutes, societies|

* Assumptionists
* Annonciades
* Augustinians
* Basilians
* Benedictines
* Bethlehemites
* Blue nuns
* Camaldoleses
* Camillians
* Carmelites
* Carthusians
* Cistercians
* Clarisses
* Conceptionists
* Crosiers
* Dominicans
* Franciscans
* Good Shepherd Sisters
* Hieronymites
* Jesuits
* Legionaries
* Mercedarians
* Minims
* Olivetans
* Oratorians
* Piarists
* Premonstratensians
* Redemptoristines
* Servites
* Theatines
* Trappists
* Trinitarians
* Visitandines

Associations
of the faithful|

* Confraternities
* Lay
* Marian
* Youth
* Workers
* Third orders
* Saint Dominic
* Lay Carmelites
* Discalced
* Saint Francis
* Secular
* Military orders
* Fimcap
* Catholic Action
* Charismatic Renewal
* Communion and Liberation
* Sant'Egidio
* Focolare
* International Alliance of Catholic Knights
* Scouting
* Legion of Mary
* Neocatechumenal Way
* Opus Dei
* Schoenstatt

Charities|

* Aid to the Church in Need
* Caritas
* Catholic Charities USA
* Home Missions
* Relief Services
* CIDSE
* Pax Christi
* Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

* See also:
* Health care
* Schools
* Universities

* Catholic Church portal
* Category

* v
* t
* e

History of the Catholic Church

General|

* History of the Catholic Church
* By country or region
* Ecclesiastical history
* Timeline
* Papacy
* Papal primacy
* Catholic ecumenical councils
* First seven
* Catholic Bible
* Biblical canon
* Vulgate
* Crusading movement
* History of the Roman Curia
* Religious institutes
* Christian monasticism
* Catholic culture
* Art
* Role in civilization
* Vatican City
* Papal States
* Latin Church
* Eastern Catholic Churches

Early Church
(30–325/476)|

| Origins and
Apostolic Age (30–100)|

* Jesus
* Ministry
* Crucifixion
* Resurrection
* Great Commission
* Holy Spirit
* Mary
* John the Baptist
* Apostles in the New Testament
* Commissioning
* Peter
* John
* Paul
* Stephen
* Council of Jerusalem
* Split with Judaism
* New Testament
* Background
* Gospels
* Acts
* Pauline epistles
* General epistles
* Revelation

|

Ante-Nicene period (100–325)|

* Persecution
* Church Fathers
* Apostolic Fathers
* Pope Clement I
* Polycarp
* Ignatius
* Irenaeus
* Justin Martyr
* Canon
* Tertullian
* Origen

Late antiquity
(313–476)|

| Great Church
(180–451)
Roman
state church
(380–451)|

* Constantine the Great
* Christianity
* Arian controversy
* Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran
* Old St. Peter's Basilica
* First Council of Nicaea
* Pope Sylvester I
* First Council of Constantinople
* Biblical canon
* Jerome
* Vulgate
* Council of Ephesus
* Council of Chalcedon

|

Early Middle Ages|

* Benedict of Nursia
* Monasticism
* Second Council of Constantinople
* Pope Gregory I
* Gregorian chant
* Third Council of Constantinople
* Saint Boniface
* Byzantine Iconoclasm
* Second Council of Nicaea
* Charlemagne
* Pope Leo III
* Fourth Council of Constantinople
* East–West Schism

High Middle Ages|

* Pope Urban II
* Investiture Controversy
* Clash against the empire
* Crusades
* Universities
* Scholasticism
* First Council of the Lateran
* Second Council of the Lateran
* Third Council of the Lateran
* Pope Innocent III
* Latin Empire
* Francis of Assisi
* Fourth Council of the Lateran
* Inquisition
* First Council of Lyon
* Second Council of Lyon
* Bernard of Clairvaux

Late Middle Ages|

* Thomas Aquinas
* Pope Boniface VIII
* Western Schism
* Avignon Papacy
* Pope Clement V
* Council of Vienne
* Knights Templar
* Catherine of Siena
* Pope Alexander VI
* Age of Discovery

Protestant Reformation
Counter-Reformation

* Protestant Reformation
* Catholic Counter-Reformation
* Exsurge Domine
* Dissolution of the monasteries
* Council of Trent
* Thomas More
* Pope Leo X
* Society of Jesus
* Ignatius of Loyola
* Francis Xavier
* Pope Pius V
* Tridentine Mass
* Teresa of Ávila
* John of the Cross
* Peter Canisius
* Philip Neri
* Robert Bellarmine
* European wars of religion
* Thirty Years' War

Baroque period to the
French Revolution

* Pope Innocent XI
* Pope Benedict XIV
* Suppression of the Society of Jesus
* Age of Enlightenment
* Anti-clericalism
* Pope Pius VI
* Shimabara Rebellion
* Edict of Nantes
* Dechristianization of France during the French Revolution

19th century|

* Pope Pius VII
* Pope Pius IX
* United States
* Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
* Our Lady of La Salette
* Our Lady of Lourdes
* First Vatican Council
* Papal infallibility
* Pope Leo XIII
* Mary of the Divine Heart
* Prayer of Consecration to the Sacred Heart
* Rerum novarum

20th century|

* Pope Pius X
* Our Lady of Fátima
* Persecutions of the Catholic Church and Pius XII
* Pope Pius XII
* Pope Pius XII 1942 consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
* Dogma of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
* Lateran Treaty
* Nazi Germany
* Mit brennender Sorge
* Pope John XXIII
* Pacem in terris
* Second Vatican Council
* Ecumenism
* Judaism
* Pope Paul VI (coronation)
* Pope John Paul I
* Mother Teresa
* USSR
* Pope John Paul II
* HIV/AIDS
* World Youth Day
* 1995

21st century|

* Sexual abuse scandal
* Islam
* World Youth Day
* 2000
* 2002
* 2005
* 2008
* 2011
* 2013
* 2016
* 2019
* 2023
* Pope Benedict XVI
* Pope Francis
* Laudato si'
* Patriarch Kirill
* COVID-19 pandemic
* Pope Leo XIV

* Vatican City portal
* Catholicism portal

* v
* t
* e

Modernism in the Catholic Church

Issues|

* Biblical exegesis
* Historical-critical exegesis of the Bible
* Biblical inerrancy
* Synoptic problem
* Quest for the historical Jesus
* Thomism
* Social doctrine

People|

* Prosper Alfaric
* Pierre Batiffol
* Maurice Blondel
* Joseph Bonsirven
* Henri Brémond
* Ernesto Buonaiuti
* Louis Duchesne
* Antonio Fogazzaro
* Marcel Hébert
* Albert Houtin
* Friedrich von Hügel
* Lucien Laberthonnière
* Lucien Lacroix
* Marie-Joseph Lagrange
* Alfred Loisy
* Eudoxe Irénée Mignot
* Romolo Murri
* Maude Petre
* Fernand Portal
* Antonin Sertillanges
* Joseph Turmel
* George Tyrrell

Anti-modernist
reaction|

* Pope Pius IX
* Quanta cura
* Syllabus of Errors
* Pope Leo XIII
* Pontifical Biblical Commission
* Pope Pius X
* Lamentabili sane exitu
* Pascendi Dominici gregis
* Oath Against Modernism
* Sodalitium Pianum
* Twenty-four Thomistic theses
* Louis Billot
* Umberto Benigni
* Rafael Merry del Val
* José de Calasanz Vives y Tutó
* Réginald Garrigou-Lagrange

Publications|

* Annales de philosophie chrétienne
* La Justice sociale
* La Quinzaine
* Revue du clergé français
* Temps présent
* Le Sillon (Marc Sangnier)

Protestant
equivalents|

* Fundamentalist–Modernist controversy

Historians|

* Giuseppe Alberigo
* Pierre Colin
* Avery Dulles
* Étienne Fouilloux
* Maurilio Guasco
* François Laplanche
* René Marlé
* Jean-Marie Mayeur
* Émile Poulat
* Christoph Theobald

* Catholicism portal
* Vatican City portal

Name
Media

* Category
* Templates
* WikiProject

* v
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Second Vatican Council

Documents|

| Constitutions|

* Sacrosanctum concilium (Sacred Liturgy)
* Lumen gentium (The Church)
* Dei verbum (Divine Revelation)
* Gaudium et spes (The Church and the World)

|

Decrees|

* Inter mirifica (Media)
* Orientalium Ecclesiarum (Eastern Catholics)
* Unitatis redintegratio (Ecumenism)
* Christus Dominus (Role of Bishops)
* Perfectae cartatis (Renewal of Religious Life)
* Optatam totius (Formation of Priests)
* Apostolicam actuositatem (Role of the Laity)
* Ad gentes (Missions)
* Presbyterorum ordinis (Role of Priests)

Declarations|

* Gravissimum educationis (Christian Education)
* Nostra aetate (Relations with non-Christians)
* Dignitatis humanae (Religious Liberty)

People|

| Popes|

* John XXIII
* Paul VI

|

Moderators|

* Leo Joseph Suenens
* Gregorio Pietro Agagianian
* Julius Döpfner
* Giacomo Lercaro

Council of Presidents|

* Eugène Tisserant
* Achille Liénart
* Ignatius Gabriel I Tappouni
* Norman Gilroy
* Francis Spellman
* Enrique Pla y Deniel
* Josef Frings
* Ernesto Ruffini
* Antonio Caggiano
* Bernardus Johannes Alfrink

Cardinal Presidents
of commissions|

* Alfredo Ottaviani
* Paolo Marella
* Amleto Giovanni Cicognani
* Benedetto Aloisi Masella
* Pietro Ciriaci
* Valerio Valeri
* Gregorio Pietro Agagianian
* Arcadio Larraona Saralegui
* Giuseppe Pizzardo
* Fernando Cento

Other council leaders|

* Augustin Bea
* Gustavo Testa
* Alberto di Jorio
* Pericle Felici

General|

* Catholic ecumenical councils
* Central Preparatory Commission
* Aggiornamento
* Sign of the times
* Gaudet Mater Ecclesia
* Peritus
* Nouvelle théologie
* Coetus Internationalis Patrum
* Subsistit in
* History of the Catholic Church since 1962
* Catholic Church and ecumenism
* Mass of Paul VI

Other|

* Hermeneutics of the Second Vatican Council
* Pact of the catacombs
* Theology of Pope Benedict XVI § Continuity of Vatican II
* Catholic–Orthodox Joint Declaration of 1965

Criticism|

* Traditionalist Catholicism
* Sedevacantism
* Palmarian Catholic Church
* Wreckovation

* Catholicism portal
* Vatican City portal

Name
Media

* Category
* Templates
* WikiProject

* v
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History of Christianity

* Spread
* History of theology
* Historicity of the Bible
* List of martyrs

Timeline|

| Centuries|

* 1st
* 2nd and 3rd
* 4th
* 5th
* 6th
* 7th
* 8th
* 9th
* 10th
* 11th
* 12th
* 13th
* 14th
* 15th
* 16th
* 17th
* 18th
* 19th
* 20th
* 21st

|

Early
Christianity|

| Origins and
Apostolic Age|

* Background
* Chronology of Jesus
* birth
* baptism
* ministry
* crucifixion
* resurrection
* Great Commission
* ascension
* historical Jesus
* Holy Spirit
* Apostles in the New Testament
* Jewish Christianity
* Split
* Paul the Apostle
* Council of Jerusalem
* Gospels
* Acts
* Pauline epistles
* General epistles
* Revelation

|

Ante-Nicene
period|

* Diversity
* Adoptionism
* Arianism
* Docetism
* Donatism
* Gnosticism
* Marcionism
* Montanism
* Canon development
* Persecution
* Apostolic / Church Fathers
* Clement of Rome
* Polycarp
* Ignatius
* Irenaeus
* Justin Martyr
* Tertullian
* Origen
* Great Church
* Early African

Late antiquity|

* Constantine
* Constantinian shift
* Roman state religion
* Monasticism
* Councils
* Nicaea I
* Creed
* Christianity
* Athanasius
* Jerome
* Augustine
* Constantinople I
* Ephesus I
* Chalcedon
* Chalcedonian / Non-Chalcedonian
* Biblical canon

Catholicism
(Timeline)|

* Papacy
* Development of primacy
* Eastern Orthodox opposition
* Peace and Truce of God
* Crusading movement
* Lateran IV
* Art patronage of Julius II
* Leo X
* Counter-Reformation
* Trent
* Art
* Catholic Reformation
* Jesuits
* Xavier
* Thomas More
* Monastery dissolution
* Wars
* Mass rocks and priest holes
* Guadalupe
* Jansenists
* Molinists
* Neo-Scholasticism
* Teresa
* Modernism
* Independent Catholics
* Vatican I and Vatican II
* Ecclesial community

Eastern
Christianity|

* Eastern Orthodoxy
* Oriental Orthodoxy
* Church of the East
* Chrysostom
* Nestorianism
* Icons
* Iconodulism
* Iconoclasm
* Great Schism
* Fall of Constantinople
* Armenia
* Georgia
* Greece
* Egypt
* Syriac
* Ethiopia
* Ottoman Empire
* Bulgaria
* Russia
* Serbia
* North America

Middle Ages|

* Pelagianism
* Gregory I
* Celtic
* Germanic
* Anglo-Saxon
* Franks
* Gothic
* Scandinavian
* Iceland
* Slavs
* Bohemia
* Bulgaria
* Kievan Rus'
* Moravia
* Poland
* Pomerania
* Investiture
* Anselm
* Abelard
* Bernard
* Bogomils
* Bosnian
* Cathars
* Apostolic Brethren
* Dulcinian
* Crusades
* Waldensians
* Inquisition
* Early Scholasticism
* Christian mysticism
* Dominic
* Francis
* Bonaventure
* Aquinas
* Five Ways
* Wycliffe
* Avignon
* Papal Schism
* Bohemian Reformation
* Hus
* Conciliarism
* Synods

Reformation
and
Protestantism|

* Erasmus
* Eucharist
* Calvinist–Arminian debate
* Arminianism
* Wars
* Resistance theories
* Separation of church and state
* Nicodemites
* Hymnody of continental Europe
* Formal and material principles
* Law and Gospel
* Literature
* Protestant work ethic

| Lutheranism|

* Luther
* Ninety-five Theses
* Diet of Worms
* Theology
* Bible
* Melanchthon
* Book of Concord
* Orthodoxy
* Eucharist
* Art

|

Calvinism|

* Zwingli
* Calvin
* Huguenots
* Presbyterianism
* Scotland
* Knox
* TULIP
* Baptism
* Dort
* Three Forms of Unity
* Westminster
* Orthodoxy
* Metrical psalters

Anglicanism
(Timeline)|

* Henry VIII
* Cranmer
* Elizabethan
* 39 Articles
* Puritans
* Civil War
* Church music
* Book of Common Prayer
* King James Version

Anabaptism|

* Theology
* Radical Reformation
* Grebel
* Swiss Brethren
* Müntzer
* Martyrs' Synod
* Menno Simons
* Smyth
* Martyrs Mirror
* Ausbund

1640–1789|

* Revivalism
* Missionaries
* timeline
* Baptists
* Separation of church and state
* Edicts of toleration
* Congregationalism
* First Great Awakening
* Methodism
* Millerism
* Pietism
* Fostering of early experimental science
* Neo- and Old Lutherans

1789–present|

* Camp meeting
* Holiness movement
* Second Great Awakening
* Restorationists
* Jehovah's Witnesses
* Mormonism
* Seventh-day Adventist
* Adventism
* Oxford Movement
* Laestadianism
* Finnish Awakening
* Christian existentialism
* Third Great Awakening
* Azusa Revival
* Gospel music
* Fundamentalist – Modernist controversy
* Pacifism
* Ecumenism
* Five solae
* Jesus movement
* Pentecostalism
* Charismatics
* Liberation theology
* Reformed epistemology
* Fourth Great Awakening
* Evangelical and Mainline Protestants
* Christian right and left
* Political influence of Evangelicalism in Latin America

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