Vatican II was a monumental event in the history of the Catholic Church that took place from 1962 to 1965. It was a council of bishops from around the world, convened by Pope John XXIII, to address issues facing the Church in the modern world. Synonyms for Vatican II include the Second Vatican Council, Vatican 2, and the Council of Vatican. This event marked a significant shift for the Catholic Church in terms of its relationship to the wider world, its approach to liturgy, and its understanding of the role of the laity. Vatican II also promoted greater ecumenism, or cooperation among different Christian denominations.