Second Vatican Council for the Youth of Christianity

Cjelokupno vrednovanje rezultata Drugoga vatikanskog koncila zahtijeva složenu analizu koju treba provesti na više razina. Jedan od pristupa prihvatljivo se može ostvariti sučeljavanjem ozračja pripreme Koncila (siječanj 1959. - listopad 1962.) i ozračja njegovog završetka u prosincu 1965. Unatoč raširenoj sekularizaciji - barem na zapadu - najava Ivana XXIII. u javnosti je prouzrokovala neviđenu pozornost i zanimanje. Ipak, kako god je ta najava bila prodorna, isto je tako bila slaba, pa je stoga potaknula mnoga pitanja o budućem Koncilu. Kakav je to Koncil htio sazvati papa Ivan? On nije oklijevao Koncil nazvati apsolutno tradicionalnim nazivom, to jest zasjedanjem biskupa. No, to nije bilo u proturječju s činjenicom da je htio Koncil epohalnoga prijelaza, to jest Koncil koji bi Crkvu uveo u novu fazu njezinoga puta. U toj je perspektivi Koncil poprimao po svemu posebno značenje, daleko više kao velik »događaj« Duha negoli kao mjesto izrade i stvaranja norma, kao što su bila zasjedanja prije njega održana tijekom stoljeća. Koncil je trebao biti »zraka nebeskoga sunca«, izraz o kojemu je papa Ivan govorio više puta, a kojega je uzeo kako bi ukazao na Koncil kao na »novu Pedesetnicu«. Bio je to »uzvišeni« način da bi se, tipično kršćanskim jezikom, istaknula izvrsnost (te) povijesne prigode i izvanrednih perspektiva što ih je otvarala. Zato je bilo potrebno da se Crkva s njome suoči s posebno dubokom obnovom, kako bi se očitovala svijetu i kako bi svim ljudima pokazala evanđeosku poruku istom snagom i neposrednošću koju je imala izvorna Pedesetnica. Osim toga, podsjećanje na Pedesetnicu u prvi je plan stavilo djelovanje Duha, a ne djelovanje pape ili Crkve, pa i samog koncilskog zasjedanja.A complete evaluation of the results of the Council requires a complicated analysis that needs to be implemented at several levels. One of the approaches can acceptably be realised through facing the circumstances surrounding preparations far the Council (January 1959 - October 1962) and the circumstances surrounding its conclusion in December 1965. Despite widespread secularisation - at least in the West-the announcement of John XXIII attracted public attention and interest that had not been seen until then. Nevertheless, regardless of how penetrating his announcement was, at the same time it was very weak and so led to questions of a future Council. What sort of Council did Pope John wish to convene? He did not hesitate to call the Council its absolutely traditional title, a conference of bishops. However, this was not in contradiction to the fact that the Council desired an Episcopal transition, that is, a Council that would introduce the Church into a new phase upon its way. In that regard the Council acquired a special significance, as a far greater »happening« of the Spirit rather than a place to create and formulate standards, as conferences prior to it had been far centuries. The Council was to have been »a ray of heavenly sunlight«, where Pope John spoke on several occasions and that he used to portray as a »new Pentecost«. This was an »exalted« way to point out excellence(ies) in laymam\u27s terms of historical events and extraordinary perspectives that it opened up. That is why it was necessary for the Church to be faced with particular deep renewal so that it could tell the world and with the same strength and immediacy that the first Pentecost had, show the message of the Gospel to all people. In addition, reminiscence of Pentecost brought the acts of the Spirit into the fore and not the acts of popes or the Church or, infact, Councils themselves