Pope speaks about Church’s joys, sorrows of past 50 years

(October 12, 2012) As we rejoice over the new springtime in the Church and a New Pentecost ushered in by the Second Vatican Council, we do it with much sobriety and humility, realizing that original sin continues to operate in personal sins that grow into sinful structures. The Pope was speaking Thursday night to participants in a torchlight procession organized by the Catholic Action group to mark the opening of the Second Vatican Council 50 year ago, and the launch of the Year of Faith on Thursday. The procession ended in St Peter’s Square, and, as just as his predecessor, Blessed John XXIII had done the same night exactly a half-century earlier, Pope Benedict XVI appeared at his studio window overlooking St. Peter’s Square to greet the participants. Without explicitly mentioning the sexual abuse scandal and other problems in the Church, Pope Benedict spoke about weeds in the Lord’s field and bad fish in the net, that point to human fragility within the Church. The ship of the Church is navigating in strong headwinds and stormy conditions, appearing as if “God is sleeping and he has forgotten us," he said. On the contrary, the Pope noted, the Church in the past five decades also has experienced the presence of the Lord, His goodness and power – the fire of the Holy Spirit, of Christ that does not devour or destroy, but a small silent flame of goodness, of truth that transforms, enlightens and gives warmth.