"The souls of those who have not committed any sin at all after they have received baptism, and the souls of those who have committed sin, but have been cleansed either while in the body or afterwards, … are promptly taken up into heaven and see clearly the Triune God himself, just as he is, some more perfectly than others according to their respective merits." [The Council of Florence, 1438-45: John Clarkson & others, S.J., The Church Teaches (Rockford, Illinois: Tan Books and Publishers, Inc., 1973) no. 899]

"The souls of those who have not incurred any stain of sin after their baptism, or who have committed a sin and have been purified while they were in the body or after death, are soon taken into heaven and there they clearly see the Triune God … for all eternity." (The Vatican Council, 1869-70: The Church Teaches, no. 892)

"By this constitution which is to remain in force forever, We, with Our apostolic authority, make the following definition: In the usual providence of God the souls of all the saints who departed from this world before the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and also those of the holy apostles, martyrs, confessors, virgins, and others of the faithful who died after receiving the holy baptism of Christ --- provided that they had no need of purification at the time of their death, or will not have such need when they die at some future time; or else, if they did then have or will have some need of purification, after they have been purified after death --- all these souls, soon after their death and, in the case of those needing it, after the purification We have mentioned, have been, are, and will be in heaven, in the kingdom of heaven and the celestial paradise with Christ, joined to the company of the holy angels." (The Constitution Benedictus Deus, 1336: The Church Teaches, no. 886)

"The Church, to which we are all called in Christ Jesus, and in which we acquire sanctity through the grace of God, will attain her full perfection only in the glory of heaven. Then will come the time of restoration of all things (Acts 3:21). Then the human race [except for those condemned in Hell] as well as the entire world, which is intimately related to man and achieves its purpose through him, will be perfectly re-established in Christ (cf. Eph. 1:10; Col. 1:20; 2 Pet. 3:10-13).

Christ, having been lifted up from the earth, is drawing all men to Himself (Jn. 12:32, Greek text). Rising from the dead (cf. Rom. 6:9), He sent His life-giving Spirit upon His disciples and through this Spirit has established His body, the Church, as the universal sacrament of salvation. Sitting at the right hand of the Father, He is continually active in the world, leading men to the Church, and through her joining them more closely to Himself and making them partakers of His glorious life by nourishing them with His own body and blood.

Therefore, the promised restoration which we are awaiting has already begun in Christ, is carried forward in the mission of the Holy Spirit, and through Him continues in the Church. There we learn through faith the meaning, too, of our temporal life, as we perform, with hope of good things to come, the task committed to us in this world by the Father, and work out our salvation (cf. Phil. 2:12)." [Lumen Gentium, no. 48 (Vatican II, 1962-1965): Walter M. Abbott, S.J., The Documents of Vatican II, pp.78-79]