The Second Vatican Council (1962–65) was announced by Pope John XXIII in 1959 as a means of spiritual renewal for the Roman Catholic Church and to seek unity among Christians, including those who were separated from Rome. The purpose stated by the pope when he announced the ecumenical council was aggiornamento, an Italian term meaning “bringing up to date.” The Second Vatican Council, commonly called Vatican II, began in October 1962 and had its final session in December 1965. It transformed the church by introducing many modernizing changes to the liturgy and other rites.