In a calendar note dated 4 July 1959, after visiting the Vatican gardens, John XXIII wrote the following note:
“When I got back to the house, I found that the ecumenical Council now in preparation ought to be called ‘the Second Vatican Council,’ because the last one, celebrated by Pope Pius IX in 1870, bore the name of Vatican Council I – Vatican le premier.”
SOURCE
Giuseppe Alberigo, The announcement of the Council, History of Vatican II, Volume I, p. 50.
PHOTO
Vatican Gardens (Marek.69 / Wikipedia / CCA BY SA 3.0
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