Gaudet Mater Ecclesia, Latin for ("Mother Church Rejoices"), is the opening declaration of the Second Vatican Council. Pope John opened the Council on October 11, 1962 in a public session before the Council Fathers as well as representatives of 86 governments and international bodies. Following a Mass, the Pope read the opening declaration. He exhorted the Council Fathers "to use the medicine of mercy rather than the weapons of severity" in the documents they would produce.