Pope John XXIII and Vatican II: The Catholic Church's modern moment
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Pope John XXIII rides in the procession to St. Peter's Basilica at start of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, 1962. <a href="http://life.time.com/history/pope-john-xxiii-and-vatican-ii-the-catholic-churchs-modern-moment/#ixzz2zpAQjbo5">For more photos, click here.</a> (Paul Schutzer—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)
Vatican Ecumenical Council and Ecumenical Procession, Rome, 1962. <a href="http://life.time.com/history/pope-john-xxiii-and-vatican-ii-the-catholic-churchs-modern-moment/#ixzz2zpBsW2Nr"><b>For more photos, click here.</b></a> (Paul Schutzer—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)
Table of cardinals during the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, 1962. <a href="http://life.time.com/history/pope-john-xxiii-and-vatican-ii-the-catholic-churchs-modern-moment/#ixzz2zpBEh4NY"><b>For more photos, click here.</b></a> (Hank Walker—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)
Scene inside St. Peter's Basilica during the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, 1962. <a href="http://life.time.com/history/pope-john-xxiii-and-vatican-ii-the-catholic-churchs-modern-moment/#ixzz2zpBXfQMi"><b>For more photos, click here.</b></a> (Hank Walker—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)