A word used by John XXIII to describe what he intended to do to the Church, namely to bring it up to date (as if the Church were not eternally new already).

The process of renewing the church, which was particularly associated with Pope John XXIII. The Second Vatican Council (1962-5). The Italian word can be translated as "a bringing up to date" or "renewal", and refers to the process of theological, spiritual and institutional renewal and updating which resulted from the work of this council.

Aggiornamento, literally meaning "bringing up to date," was one of the key words used during the Second Vatican Council both by bishops and clergy attending the sessions, and by the media and Vaticanologists covering it. It was used to mean a spirit of change, openness, openmindedness and modernity.