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When I was 11 years of age Pope John XXIII, one of the most popular and loving popes of all time, inaugurated a new era in the history of mother church by his openness to change and healing in his convoking of Vatican Council II 1962–65. I was 14 by the time the Council was over and experienced the changes implemented as I grew to manhood. This event was cataclysmic and exciting. Ecumenical prayer and bible study groups started, the charismatic movement began with the gifts of the holy spirit, and people founded Christian communities throughout the world,
The altar moved away from the wall to represent the table of the last supper, the priest turned to face the people, and the vernacular of the people replaced Latin, which was one of the hopes of the Protestant Reformers. These events of my generation left me with a burning sense of Hope and Love in God which has never left me even to this day.
In his opening address for Vatican II in 1962 Pope John indicated that Contrary to the voices of the "Prophets of Doom" all present indications are that the human family is on the "threshold of a new era".
He said we must recognize here the hand of God, who, as the years roll by, is ever directing men's efforts, whether they realize it or not, towards the fulfillment of the inscrutable designs of His providence.
Background Reading:The Second Vatican Council encouraged dialogue with the greater body of Christ that included Protestantism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and for Buddhism, acknowledged the spiritual values present, promoting mutual respect and understanding, and encouraging dialogue on ethical and moral issues relevant to all faiths. establishing relationships with their leaders and communities, highlighting the importance of peace and social justice in all traditions, and supporting initiatives for interreligious dialogue at local and global levels. Pope John also issued several socially important encyclicals, most notably: Pacem in terris (“Peace on Earth”) and Nostra aetate (“In Our Time”) a groundbreaking document that rejected the traditional accusation that the Jews killed Christ; recognized the legitimacy of Judaism and Islam, and condemned antisemitism. In his opening address to the 2nd Vatican Council Pope John said: about the Pessimistic Voices "In the daily exercise of Our pastoral office, it sometimes happens that We hear certain opinions which disturb Us—opinions expressed by people who, though fired with a commendable zeal for religion, are lacking in sufficient prudence and judgment in their evaluation of events. They can see nothing but calamity and disaster in the present state of the world. They say over and over that this modern age of ours, in comparison with past ages, is definitely deteriorating. One would think from their attitude that history, that great teacher of life, had taught them nothing. They seem to imagine that in the days of the earlier councils everything was as it should be so far as doctrine and morality and the Church's rightful liberty were concerned. We feel that We must disagree with these prophets of doom, who are always forecasting worse disasters, as though the end of the world were at hand." And about a Basis For Optimism Pope John said: "Present indications are that the human family is on the threshold of a new era. We must recognize here the hand of God, who, as the years roll by, is ever directing men's efforts, whether they realize it or not, towards the fulfillment of the inscrutable designs of His providence, wisely arranging everything, even adverse human fortune, for the Church's good."