| Second Vatican Ecumenical Council Concilium Oecumenicum Vaticanum Secundum (Latin) | |
|---|---|
 Saint Peter's Basilica Venue of the Second Vatican Council | |
| Date | 11 October 1962 – 8 December 1965 |
| Accepted by | Catholic Church |
Previous council | First Vatican Council |
| Convoked by | Pope John XXIII |
| President | Pope John XXIII Pope Paul VI |
| Attendance | up to 2,625[1] |
| Topics | The Church in itself, its sole salvific role as the one, true and complete Christian faith, also in relation to ecumenism among other religions, in relation to the modern world, renewal of consecrated life, liturgical disciplines, etc. |
Documents and statements | Four Constitutions:
Three Declarations:
Nine Decrees:
|
| Chronological list of ecumenical councils | |
Ad gentes (To the Nations) is the Second Vatican Council's decree on missionary activity that reaffirmed the need for missions and salvation in Christ.[2] The document establishes evangelization as one of the fundamental missions of the Catholic Church and reaffirms the tie between evangelization and charity for the poor. Ad gentes also calls for the formation of strong Christian communities as well as strong relations with other Christians. Finally, it lays out guidelines for the training and actions of the missionaries.[3]
