Optatam Totius

Optatam totius, the Second Vatican Council's Decree on Priestly Training, was issued during the final year of the Council (which met from 1963 to 1965) and in concerned with priestly vocations and the formation or training of candidates for ordination.^[1] It includes a recognition that "priestly training, because of the circumstances particularly of contemporary society, must be pursued and perfected even after the completion of the course of studies in seminaries.^[1]^{: Paragraph 21}

Approved by a vote of 2,318 of the bishops assembled at the council in favour, and 3 opposed, the decree was promulgated by Pope Paul VI on 28 October 1965. The Latin title refers to "the desired renewal of the whole Church".^[1]