New Catechesis Series: Reflecting on the Second Vatican Council through its Documents

"[The Second Vatican Council] helped us to open ourselves to the world and to embrace the changes and challenges of the modern age in dialogue and shared responsibility, as a Church that desires to open its arms to humanity, to echo the hopes and anxieties of peoples, and to collaborate in building a more just and fraternal society."

This is an English translation of the catechesis given by Pope Leo XIV during his weekly general audience on 7 January 2026. This is the introduction to a new series on the Second Vatican Council and its documents.