In Dr. Massimo Faggioli's lecture, he described the recent history of the Catholic Church and the issues it has faced. It addressed the question of how Catholics perceive their position and function in relation to the state and politics in general. This was a global issue, although Dr. Faggioli spoke very specifically about American Catholics and their perceptions. A specific challenge that the Catholic Church has faced historically has been the authority of the Emperor versus the authority of the Pope. Through this, the Church developed the idea of ​​a world with a clear separation between Church and State. Furthermore, at the time, both the Pope and the Emperor had religious and political power. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayThe most dramatic event in the history of the Western Hemisphere was the period spanning World War I and World War II, according to Dr. Faggioli. The next ten-year period became a time of reflection for the Catholic Church, with Pope Pius reading his Christmas message and suggesting that democracy might not be the worst thing in the world. The Second Vatican Council was the most important gathering of the Catholic Church in the last five centuries, according to Dr. Faggioli. It was a four-year debate that redefined the understanding of the doctrine in the modern world. This led to a development in the political culture of the Catholic Church, the acceptance of democracy and various other changes. An important document that was created as a result was the Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. This stated that the Church was autonomous and independent of any politics or political authority. This was particularly difficult for some American Catholics and reiterated the idea of ​​separation of church and state. Another document resulting from Vatican II was the Declaration on Religious Freedom which recognized the new conception of political authority in the Catholic Church. Furthermore, it is stated that it is an individual right of human beings to have religious freedom regardless of their religion. Before Vatican II, the Church's interest was to guarantee the rights of Catholics. The Second Vatican Council rejected that the freedom of the Church was more important than the freedom of the individual. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Many American Catholics have rejected Vatican II as destructive of “true” Catholicism, claiming that the twentieth century was a lost century for Catholicism. . This was dangerous as it essentially meant that they rejected the developments of the Catholic Church since the Second Vatican Council and any lessons learned from this time period..