John Paul II: A Saint of Vatican II

Here's a short reflection on John Paul II and his influence on Vatican II by author and papal biographer George Weigal. A criticism of the late pope by some is that he didn't understand the Council and had tried to undo the reforms it put forward. An odd charge, because he was at the Council as a bishop and contributed to the writing of Gaudium et Spes, the Council's Pastoral Constitution on the Church. He came along at a time when the Church was still experiencing a time of transition and adjustment, and I never thought that he was trying to reverse the Council, but solidify and clarify what true reform meant. I'll have more about both John Paul, and Pope John XXIII as we get closer to their joint canonizations this Sunday.