Closing Mass
December 8, 1965
On Dec. 8 the Council Fathers gathered, without ceremony, in their regular council seats inside the basilica, vested in copes and miters — many of them wearing the simple gold rings Pope Paul had given them to commemorate the closing of the council instead of their customary jeweled rings.
Then they began the procession out the front door of the basilica, left across the portico, down the corridor of the Vatican’s formal entrance and out through the bronze doors into the square. Arriving at the altar and the papal throne area, they filled new banks of seats which had been set up for them.
Special delegations were given places of honor near the altar, while the diplomatic corps and other distinguished visitors were seated atop the great stone arcades that encircle St. Peter’s square. Thousands of other people were in the square itself.
Pope Paul VI greets the faithful during the closure of the Second Vatican Council in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Dec. 8, 1965. (CNS/Catholic Press Photo)
Pope Paul celebrated Mass at an altar in the center of the assembled bishops, and all present recited the responses. At the end of the Mass, Pope Paul delivered a final discourse and then blessed a foundation stone which will be placed in the walls of a church to be built in commemoration of the council and to be dedicated to Mary, Mother of the Church.
Archbishop Pericle Felici, the council’s secretary general, read the official document proclaiming the closing of the council. Then bishops, special guests and thousands of priests, Brothers, nuns, seminarians and laity joined in responses to the prayers which followed. The Pope gave his apostolic blessing — and suddenly it was over. The Second Vatican Ecumenical Council was history.
Though history will colorlessly record that 2,400 council Fathers and as many theologians brought the council to a successful conclusion, more than 100,000 spectators will indelibly remember the pageantry of its close.
Enfolded by the massive arms of the colonnade which defines St. Peter’s Square, Romans and visitors from throughout the world stood under the pleasant winter sun which alternated with threatening but never-realized clouds of rain.
It was reminiscent of the opening ceremonies three years and two months before when the sun broke through clouds of drenching rain less than an hour before Pope John began this council. Much had happened since.
Habituals of Rome have become used to seeing the cardinalatial red and bishops’ purple coming and going from the council hall day after day, but now these prelates sat together on the front steps of the massive basilica in temporary benches at either side of a special papal throne blocking the main entrance.
Spectators at papal ceremonies have also become used to seeing Pope Paul enter without the crown used by previous popes for centuries. Once again he was wearing a bishop’s miter — one of the council Fathers, as he has so often insisted in his major pronouncements. Only the throne and the chair on which he was carried so the crowd could see him distinguished him as the highest bishop and supreme pontiff of the Church. This, too, the council had reaffirmed.
Vatican workmen had been busy for days constructing the platforms, ramps, benches and balconies which were now draped in crimson bunting with a golden trim, forming an open-air council chamber under the sun.
To the right of the throne, a special tribune was reserved for observers representing most of the major Christian confessions of the world, joined by a Buddhist monk who was Gandhi’s companion and by leaders of other faiths.
Roman spectators have also become accustomed to these persons, since they have been prominent throughout the council. Pope Paul has singled them out for special signs of affection and he did so again during this ceremony.
In the same tribune were men and women who have “audienced” the council, representatives sent by some 90 governments, and persons representing the intellectuals, artists, the poor, the afflicted, the workers, women and the youth of the world.
To each of these ambients a cardinal read a message from Pope Paul, near the end of the ceremony. Then representatives of each group were given a copy of their message.
As a spastic cripple approached on behalf of the afflicted, Pope Paul was visibly moved. He grasped him tightly in a Roman embrace and held him there several moments. The man walked away with his head high and his face etched by tears of happiness.
Next came a blind man with his seeing-eye dog. The tension of the previous encounter was eased as the Pope fussed happily over the dog and the papal attendants chuckled.
Though undoubtedly most of the Vatican’s staff of workmen were in their finest for the day’s festivities, a laborer from Milan was chosen to represent the workingmen. Wearing blue overalls, he marched proudly to the throne where his former archbishop kept him several moments in animated discussion.
Six youngsters from six continents, representing the youth of the world, were presented to Pope Paul by Gregorio Cardinal Agagianian of the Roman curia, Valerian Cardinal Gracias of Bombay and Joseph Cardinal Ritter of St. Louis. North America was represented by young Paul Kelly, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Kelly of the United States embassy in Rome.
The Mass was not the kind of preconciliar solemn ceremony once sung by the Pope and the Julian choir, but a simple sung Mass to which the entire assembly responded. It was a reminder of another fruit of this council, its constitution on the liturgical renewal.
During the Offertory Pope Paul made his own offerings for the world’s poor and disadvantaged.
Eugene Cardinal Tisserant, dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals, assisted by John Cardinal Heenan of Westminster and Francis Cardinal Spellman of New York, announced gifts to welfare institutions in Palestine, Argentina, India, Pakistan and Cambodia. The gifts were then presented to the ranking prelate of each of these countries. Cardinal Tisserant explained their significance:
“The Holy Father, who reminded the United Nations last Oct. 4 of the grave duty of the vast human family to come to the aid of the less privileged of its members, wishes to make a concrete gesture on behalf of certain projects chosen from various parts of the world. This donation, made at the very moment of the Offertory of the Mass, is intended to be a symbol of the charity of the entire Church gathered around the Pope in the persons of its bishops.”
Just before this ceremony, another council restoration — the “Prayer of the Faithful” — was read in Latin and Greek, with parts of it repeated in several other languages.
“That the fruits which God has deigned to bestow on His Church through this ecumenical council may be studiously grasped with sincere and open minds by all of us—we beseech You, hear us.”
“That the People of God moved by this ecumenical council might contribute their labor toward building up the Church in justice and holiness—we beseech You, hear us.”
So profound was the sense of participation in the Mass that many Italian voices tried to respond.
The formal ceremonies of closing which followed the Mass began with the reading of a decree in the clear voice of Archbishop Pericle Felici, the council’s secretary general, who has through the years demonstrated his unchallenged command of the Latin language.
Five bishops from as many continents then gathered before the book of the Gospels which has been enthroned daily at the opening of each congregation. Together they chanted invocations used to close councils since that of Chalcedon in the year 451. The last time they were heard was at the close of the Council of Trent in 1563. The only council since then, the First Vatican Council, ended in the confusion of the Italian civil war. It was never formally closed.
To each invocation the bishops and attendants responded in Gregorian chant: “Christ conquers! Christ reigns! Christ hear us!”
Prayers for Pope Paul were coupled with those for the happy repose of his predecessor Pope John, whose inspiration set the enormous gathering in motion. God’s blessing was invoked on the council Fathers and theologians, living and dead. Special mention was given to those whom illness or persecution kept away. Christian observers of other faiths, representatives of all governments, the People of God and all the brothers of the human family — for each the assembly prayed to God. Then they proclaimed their faith:
“We confess belief in the holy Second Vatican Ecumenical Council and will ever observe its decrees.
“Unanimous is our faith, unanimous our sentiments, unanimous our fervent endorsement. This is the faith of Blessed Peter and the Apostles, this is the faith of Our Fathers.
“May the peace of Christ come through the blood of His redemption.
“May Christ’s kingdom come! “Thanks be to God. Amen!”
With these sung thoughts echoing through the crowded square, Pope Paul stood to give his blessing to the world.
The liturgy had begun at 10:30. Now it was 1:23. In a vigorous voice Pope Paul said, “In the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ go in peace!”
The 21st ecumenical council passed into history.
Vatican II: 50 years ago today 