On October 11, 1962, Pope John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Council, the 21st ecumenical council in the history of the Catholic Church, and the only such one in the 20th century. Several thousand bishops from 116 countries filled St Peters basilica, along with invited observers from 19 protestant and orthodox churches as well as representatives from 86 governments and international organizations. They heard the Pope define the mission of the Council as the renewal and strengthening of the Catholic Church in its effort to dialog with the contemporary world. A global churhch would offer its positive and affirmative help to a world still recovering from the wars of the past century and enmeshed in a new cold war, even as its people entered an era of decolonisation in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
By the time the Council closed its work in December 1965 under Paul VI , it had issued documents and decrees on all the subjects presented to it. For the U.S. catholic in the pews, the most notable result was the ability to actively participate in the Mass in english or spanish, even while Latin remained the language of the universal church. Another matter that received public notice was the council's treatment on the church's view of the Jews. It is still too early to evaluate the historic impact of Vatican II on the church and the world. It remains a subject of some debate within church circles, but its effects will continue to be felt for decades to come.