bishop Cardinal Bernardus Alfrink: archbishop of Utrecht (Netherlands), the senior Dutch bishop Cardinal Leo Jozef Suenens: archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels (Belgium), the senior Belgian bishop Cardinal Franz König, archbishop of Vienna (Austria), the senior Austrian bishop Cardinal Giacomo Lercaro: archbishop of Bologna (Italy) Cardinal Paul-Émile Léger: archbishop of Montreal (Canada) Cardinal Julius Döpfner: archbishop of Munich and Freising (Germany) Prominent reform-minded theologians at the Council Marie-Dominique Chenu : private peritus Henri de Lubac : official peritus Yves Congar : official peritus Karl Rahner : official peritus John Courtney Murray : official peritus Bernhard Häring : official peritus Edward Schillebeeckx : private peritus Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI): official peritus Hans Küng: official peritus Chronology of the Council First period: 11 October – 8 December 1962 Opening Day John XXIII opened the council on 11 October 1962 in a public session at St. Peter's Basilica and delivered his opening address Gaudet Mater Ecclesia ("Mother Church Rejoices") before the council Fathers and representatives of 86 governments or international groups. He criticized the "prophets of doom who are always forecasting disaster" for the church or world. He spoke of the advantage of separation of Church and state but also the challenge to integrate faith with public life. What is needed at the present time is a new enthusiasm, a new joy and serenity of mind in the unreserved acceptance by all of the entire Christian faith, without forfeiting that accuracy and precision in its presentation which characterized the proceedings of the Council of Trent and the First Vatican Council. What is needed, and what everyone imbued with a truly Christian, Catholic and apostolic spirit craves today, is that this doctrine shall be more widely known, more deeply understood, and more penetrating in its effects on men's moral lives. What is needed is that this certain and immutable doctrine, to which the faithful owe obedience, be studied afresh and reformulated in contemporary terms. For this deposit of faith, or truths which are contained in our time-honored teaching is one thing; the manner in which these truths are set forth (with their meaning preserved intact) is something else. The Church "meets today's needs by explaining the validity of her doctrine more fully rather than by condemning," by reformulating ancient doctrine for pastoral effectiveness. Also, the Church is "moved by mercy and goodness towards her separated children." Commissions The first working session of the council was