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The Contribution of the Belgians to Vatican Council II
An International Conference of Theologians and
Church Historians
at Leuven, Malines & Louvain-la-Neuve
September 12-16, 2005

Jointly organized by:
Cardinal Suenens Center (JCU), Centre Lumen Gentium (UCL), Centrum voor Conciliestudie (KUL)

Sponsored by:
Cardinal Suenens Center through the generosity of Mrs. Margaret F. Grace of New York and F.W.O. Vlaanderen

Schedule for the Conference

CONFERENCE BACKGROUND

The Belgian delegation of bishops and periti were poised to assume a leadership role at the Second Vatican Council because they were themselves at the cutting edge of biblical scholarship, eccesiology, church history, systematic theology and liturgy. Their influence, in fact, pervaded the whole Council. Yves Congar, the French theologian, wrote in his diary, Mon Journal du Concile , that "the Belgians are not numerous: 5 or 6, but they are EVERYWHERE." They were skilled as diplomats who possessed "political dexterity" and thus able to navigate the terrain of the Roman world and its ways. They were also poly-linguists and quintessential team-players who were able to work co-operatively with other specialists in particular fields, effecting compromise when necessary but also determined to maintain an independence that was to be the hallmark of an open and unfettered Council. Among them, of course, was their indomitable leader, Leon-Josef Suenens, Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussel.

The recent publication of archival inventories offered fresh opportunity for scholars to consult newly available primary sources so that the contribution of the Belgians might be re-assessed. To guarantee as balanced an appraisal as possible, experts from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United States were invited to present their research, findings and evaluations along with scholars affiliated with Belgium's two centers dedicated to the study of Vatican Council II. In addition to celebrating the current availability of sources, the timing of the conference coincided with the closure of the Council 40 years ago and the 35th anniversary of the Leuven Centre for the Study of Vatican II.

The aim of this conference was to investigate Yves Congar's bold statement that it was possible to speak of this Council as "Louvain I." Five days of critical research and discussion led to a richer and fuller understanding of the Belgian contribution to the Council, and to the general historiography of the Second Vatican Council.

CONFERENCE PAPERS ARE IN PRESS WITH PEETERS, BELGIUM
AND WILL BE AVAILABLE EARLY 2008.

Cardinal Godfried Danneels	Dr. Sylvia Scatena	Rev. Prof. Michael Fahey, S.J.
Rev. Prof. Joseph A. Komonchak	Rev. Prof John Coleman , S.J.	Dean Mathijs Lamberigts

CONFERENCE SPEAKERS, MODERATORS, SPECIAL GUESTS:

Mrs. Aldegonde Brenninkmeijer Werhan

Mr. Hubert Brenninkmeijer Werhan

Canon Wilfried Brieven, Malines, Belgium

Dr. Dirk Claes, Leuven, Belgium

Rev. Prof. John A. Coleman, S.J., Los Angeles, USA

His Eminence Cardinal Godfried Danneels, Malines-Brussels, Belgium

Rev. Leo Declerck, Bruges, Belgium

Prof. Peter De Mey, Leuven, Belgium

Prof. Doris Donnelly, Cleveland, USA

Rev. Prof. Michael Fahey, S.J., Milwaukee, USA

Rev. Prof. Joseph Famerée, S.C.J., Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

Prof. Jan Grootaers, Brussels, Belgium

Rev. Artur Kasprzak, Paris, France

Prof. Jan Jans, Tilburg, Germany

Prof. Leo Kenis, Leuven, Belgium

Rev. Prof. Joseph Komonchak, Washington DC, USA

Prof. Mathijs Lamberigts, Leuven, Belgium

Rev. Emmanuel Lanne, Chevetogne, Belgium

Prof. Eddy Louchez, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

Dr. Toon Osaer, Malines, Belgium

Rev. Prof. Gilles Routhier, Québec, Canada

Dr. Silvia Scatena, Bologna, Italy

Dr. Karim Schelkens, Leuven, Belgium

Prof. Claude Soetens, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

Prof. Guido Treffler, Munich, Germany

Prof. Giovanni Turbanti, Bologna, Italy

Rev. Prof. Jan Van der Veken, Leuven, Belgium

Rev. Luc Van Hilst, Malines, Belgium

Rev. Prof. Jared Wicks, S.J., Cleveland, USA