aggiornamento

American  

[uh-jawr-nuh-men-toh, ahd-jawr-nah-men-taw] / əˌdʒɔr nəˈmɛn toʊ, ɑdˌdʒɔr nɑˈmɛn tɔ /

noun

aggiornamenti plural

1. the act of bringing something up to date to meet current needs.

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aggiornamento British  

/ addʒornaˈmɛnto /

noun

1. RC Church the process of bringing up to date methods, ideas, etc

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Etymology

Origin of aggiornamento

First recorded in 1960–65; from Italian, equivalent to aggiorna(re) “to revise, update,” equivalent to ag- verbal prefix + -giornare, verbal derivative of giorno “day” + -mento noun suffix. See ad-, adjourn, -ment

Explanation

Aggiornamento is a process of modernization. The term was made famous in the 1960s when Pope John XXI used it to describe a movement to update and revitalize the Roman Catholic Church. Aggiornamento is Italian for “bringing up to date.” In the Roman Catholic Church, aggiornamento has included such things as changing the language of the mass from Latin to whatever modern language is spoken by the local congregation. While the word aggiornamento is most commonly used within the context of the Church's ongoing process of renewal, it is also used in non-religious contexts, referring to processes of modernization in business, education, and politics.

Example Sentences

Her position is an experiment by the church during its era of aggiornamento, or updating, and the liberalizations in the air during Vatican II contribute to the thrilling sense of possibility.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

By the grace of God Pope Francis will effect an aggiornamento and, at the same time, ressourcement in Holy Mother Church.

From New York Times • Dec. 22, 2014

That reformation is most spectacular in Rome, where the Second Vatican Council has unleashed a passion for aggiornamento in the most tradition-encrusted of churches.

From Time Magazine Archive

Since the inception of Pope John's aggiornamento K�ng has been fearlessly writing on what Vatican II was about: ecumenism.

From Time Magazine Archive

The creation of a cardinal is still one of the world's most imposing religious ceremonies, but in the spirit of the Catholic aggiornamento Paul has made some measured simplifications.

From Time Magazine Archive