An ecumenical council is the HIGHEST form of authority within the Church.  It is higher than anyy pope speaking alone.  Remember for Pius IX to get his proposal passed as doctrine [infallibility] he needed the VOTE of every bishop attending.  Enough of the majority gave it to him.  Gaudium et spes is FAR from BLAND.  And are you judging the documents in the light of TODAY'S issues?  There was much more that could have been done at Vatican II---but it is soooo much more than just dealing with the Liturgy---which is what MOST Catholics experienced at their Church each week-end.  Sorry, but I didn't belong to any parish where liberties in the Liturgy took place---and I belonged to quite a few parishes in a number of states.

Also, the discussions that lead up to the Documents that were passed---gave invaluable understanding of the intent and thrust behind most of the documents.