The International Congress, “Vatican II in the Pontificate of John Paul II”, will examine the period of time from October 11, 1962 to April 2, 2005 of Bishop Karol Wojtyła's presence at opening Session of the Second Vatican Council until his death as Pope John Paul II (October 16,1978 – April 2, 2005).

The Congress will study this period by focusing on three important themes of the Second Vatican Council: Christ, Church, Man in addition to other minor themes. These three fundamental themes have been widely accepted as an integral part of the Pontiff's teaching and witness. John Paul II felt responsible for the teaching of the Council and wanted to be its continuation, first as Bishop of Krakow and then as Bishop of Rome.

This Congress will underline these important themes and how they were incorporated into John Paul II's teachings, pastoral programs, and in his local and universal pastoral work. Experts of international fame will initiate the discussion to stimulate and encourage the commitment of all Christians in today’s world.

These Council themes continue to illuminate life in the Church today and the world of men and women of our time. The presence of distinguished persons in the ecclesiastical and academic world, as well as representatives of other religions, will present the wide horizons of the Council, as characterized by the life of John Paul II at the beginning of the Second Millennium. His life, which was lived between "the new and the old", was a synthesis of traditional and new prospectives.

Given the importance of the themes, the Acts of the Congress will be published in order to give continuity to the research presented during this celebration.