2 Vatican II Documents: Declarations and Decrees

Diagram of the Vatican II documents

Constitutions, Declarations and Decrees
The core documents from Vatican II were the four Constitutions.  In addition there were four Declarations and 12 Decrees.  The different types of document help to show the level of authority and the amount time and level of agreement on the topics.  The diagram above organises the Vatican II documents into three broad areas. The links below provide a useful index to these Vatican II documents. 

Mission

Decree Ad Gentes on the mission activity of the church

Decree on priestly training Optatam Totius on 28^th October 1965

Declaration on Education Gravissimum Educationis  28^th October 1965 

Decree on the media of social communications Inter Mirifica  on 4.12.1963

People of God

Decree on the pastoral office of bishops in the church Christus Dominus  on 28.10.1965

Decree on the adaptation and renewal of religious life Perfectae Caritatis on 28.10.1965

Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity Apostolicam Actuositatem on 18.11.1965

Decree on the ministry and life of priests Presbyterorum Ordinis on 7.12.1965

External Relations

Decree on Ecumenism Unitatis Redintegratio
Declaration on the relation of the Church to non-Christian religions Nostra Aetate 28.101965
Decree on the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite Orientalium Ecclesiarum  on 21.11.1964
Declaration on religious freedom Dignitatis Humanae on the right of the person and of communities to social and civil freedom in matters religious 7.12.1965 

For a more detailed explanation of the different types of document see  The Authority of Church Documents