From anathema to dialogue: attitude of the roman catholic church to atheism at the I and II Vatican council

As a result of radical social changes in the New Age, the Catholic Church in the 19th century found itself in an unprecedented situation, requiring it to answer new challenges, among which the most serious and painful was atheism. The traditional connection between the throne and the altar was weakening, and secularization led to a growing alienation between the Church and society. The development of the natural sciences contributed to the spread of a materialistic worldview, which denied not only Christianity, but also religion. Rational criticism of religion set as its goal its overcoming and complete destruction within the framework of the anthropocentric picture of the world. Marxism gave rise to many unresolved social contradictions, considering religion as one of the main obstacles to the transformation of society. Church-wide reflection and official appraisal were required on this new page in Church history.