The Second Vatican Council

TRACES - Novelty in Continuity

John XXIII said this: 'The principal aim of the Council is not the discussion of this or that theme of the Church’s fundamental doctrine. This doctrine, certain and unchangeable, that must be faithfully respected, needs to be studied and presented in a way that responds to the needs of our time.' In this same radio message, Pope John had spoken of the need for renewal in the encounter between men and the face of the Risen Christ...

First of all, I would say the centrality of Christ as He in whom man is revealed and clarified to himself. This theme, which John Paul II kept on taking up during his pontificate, from the encyclical Redemptor Hominis, is taken from that passage of Gaudium et Spes that says, 'In reality, only in the Mystery of the Word made flesh does the mystery of man find true light.' This is at the center of Fr. Giussani’s educative method. Not only man, but the whole of creation finds its light in the Mystery of the Word made flesh. Here, the studies Fr. Giussani had carried out on the Protestant and the Orthodox world meet and almost join together.