The article reviews the main currents of contemporary pastoral theology, – ecclesiological, praxiological, anthropocentric and sociopolitical, – which emerged as a result of modernization reforms (aggiornamento) initiated by the II Vatican Council. It analyzes their specific scientific approaches and argues that their achievements open great prospects for successful pastoral practice. An attempt to apply these achievements in the realities of the UGCC could become the key to creating an effective model of pastoral theology in Ukraine.