A theological understanding of the world’s different religions, the relationship between faith and reason and, especially, the nature and mission of the church in the modern world were challenges the Catholic Church needed to face, the retired pope wrote in the message read Oct. 20.
Vatican II was ‘necessary,’ retired pope writes to U.S. conference
Don’t let debate, mandates obscure church’s real mission, theologians say
It is important people understand the parish as “a community of life and not only as a community of prayer.”