Joseph Ratzinger’s perception of the Second Vatican Council

Ks. Andrzej ProniewskiThe author weighs the problem of Joseph Ratzinger’s perception of the Second Vatican Council in the light of the Cardinal’s comments on selected documents, especially the Constitution. The remarks date back to the time of the Council, however, they are also supplemented by further comments, evaluating the implementation of the Council decisions in the contemporary Church. In his style of thinking and acting, Ratzinger adopted the method that combined the Church’s past with its future. He supports the idea that history, seen as a stage-by-stage process, helps to understand the Church and maintain its identity. Being committed to the past and looking into the future, is an element that puts together the saving reality in the Church. That is why in the Council works Ratzinger saw the possibility of re-interpretation of the Catholic Church’s heritage. This was to be done by the changing of the language of theology by making it closer to an individual. It would help to spread the message of salvation and deepen the Catholic identity. The strengthening of its own identity Gould serve the ecumenical dialogue. According to Ratzinger, not all of the Council regulations took their proper direction, especially in the case of the liturgy.Uniwersytet w Białymstok