Church Document
Gaudium et Spes
Document of the Second Vatican Council (1965)
The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. The longest document of the Second Vatican Council. Treats the dignity of the human person, the community of mankind, human activity, the role of the Church in the modern world, and pressing problems (marriage and family, culture, economic and social life, political life, peace).
Key themes
The dignity of the human person
The community of mankind
Human activity throughout the world
The role of the Church in the modern world
Marriage and the family
The proper development of culture
Economic and social life
Political life
The fostering of peace
Document type
Council document
Issuing authority
Pope Paul VI / Second Vatican Council
Issued date
7 December 1965