Washington D.C., May 14, 2013 / 23:11 pm
Cardinal Justin F. Rigali, archbishop emeritus of Philadelphia, said that the five Popes involved in the Second Vatican Council shared a common vision of protecting and spreading the Catholic faith.
Popes John XXIII and Paul VI "emphasized the need for prayer, need for understanding" as they oversaw the council, Cardinal Rigali said, explaining that this mindset became the "ethos" of Vatican II following the gathering.
The goal of the Second Vatican Council was "to help the world see Jesus," he stressed, "so that everything about us would be more in conformity with Jesus Christ."
The cardinal's May 9 remarks were delivered at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., as part of a Year of Faith lecture series.