Gaudium et spes

The pastoral constitution Gaudium et spes is one of the most influential texts of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), whose impulses continue to resonate in the 21st century. Gaudium et spes intertwines Catholic doctrine and ethics in a way that cannot simply be described as a model of foundational principles and practical application. Rather, the pastoral constitution offers a new grammar of Catholic theology, and the pastoral emphasis of the Council finds its strongest expression in Gaudium et spes. At the same time, the text is a significant ecumenical document that incorporates insights from other churches and has, in turn, exerted a strong influence on the ecumenical movement and its socio-ethical issues in recent decades. As such, the text is critically assessed and commented upon.