Why did some members of the Roman Curia oppose the Second Vatican Council?

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St. John XXIII Pope John XXIII said the goal of his papacy was to “bring the church up to date” and regenerate Catholic faith.

Some members of the Roman Curia opposed the Second Vatican Council because they were convinced that the Roman Catholic Church had prospered under the leadership of Pope Pius XII and saw no valid reason for the changes envisioned by Pope John XXIII.1

These conservative officials believed that church councils historically led to upheaval and disorder. Consequently, some Vatican cardinals actively attempted to delay the council in hopes that the project would be abandoned after the death of John XXIII. Their resistance stemmed from a desire to maintain the church's existing structure and practices, viewing the pope's call for aggiornamento—or "bringing up to date"—as unnecessary for an institution they believed was already thriving.12