Second Vatican Ecumenical Council
APOSTOLIC BRIEF "IN SPIRITU SANCTO' FOR THE CLOSING OF THE COUNCIL - DECEMBER 8, 1965
read at the closing ceremonies of Dec. 8 by Archbishop Pericle Felici, general
secretary of the council.
The Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, assembled in the Holy Spirit and under
the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom we have declared Mother of the
Church, and of St. Joseph, her glorious spouse, and of the Apostles SS. Peter
and Paul, must be numbered without doubt among the greatest events of the
Church. In fact it was the largest in the number of Fathers who came to the seat
of Peter from every part of the world, even from those places where the
hierarchy has been very recently established. It was the richest because of the
questions which for four sessions have been discussed carefully and profoundly.
And last of all it was the most opportune, because, bearing in mind the
necessities of the present day, above all it sought to meet the pastoral needs
and, nourishing the flame of charity, it has made a great effort to reach not
only the Christians still separated from communion with the Holy See, but also
the whole human family.
At last all which regards the holy ecumenical council has, with the help of God,
been accomplished and all the constitutions, decrees, declarations and votes
have been approved by the deliberation of the synod and promulgated by us.
Therefore we decided to close for all intents and purposes, with our apostolic
authority, this same ecumenical council called by our predecessor, Pope John
XXIII, which opened October 11, 1962, and which was continued by us after his
death.
We decided moreover that all that has been established synodally is to be
religiously observed by all the faithful, for the glory of God and the dignity
of the Church and for the tranquillity and peace of all men. We have approved
and established these things, decreeing that the present letters are and remain
stable and valid, and are to have legal effectiveness, so that they be
disseminated and obtain full and complete effect, and so that they may be fully
convalidated by those whom they concern or may concern now and in the future;
and so that, as it be judged and described, all efforts contrary to these things
by whomever or whatever authority, knowingly or in ignorance be invalid and
worthless from now on.
Given in Rome at St. Peter's, under the [seal of the] ring of the fisherman,
Dec. 8, on the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
the year 1965, the third year of our pontificate.
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