Historical information

The Second Vatican Council or Vatican II, also termed the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican addressed relations between the Catholic Church and the modern world. The council, through the Holy See, was formally opened under the pontificate of Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and was closed under Pope Paul VI on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on 8 December 1965. The Bishop of Ballarat participated in the Council and this silver medal is one of his mementoes of the historic council. Many changes within the Catholic church were instituted as well as in relations between the Catholic church and other religions.