Il-Konċilju Vatikan II, li l-Knisja bdiet tiċċelebra ħamsin sena ilu, kien esperjenza qawwija tal-Ispirtu li fetħet orizzonti ġodda u kbar. Dakinhar l-Ispirtu s-Santu bejjet żerriegħa ġdida li, jekk inħalluha tnibbet u tikber, kapaċi tagħti wiċċ isbaħ lill-Knisja u lis-Soċjetà! Imma ġara li “xi żerrigħat waqgħu mal-mogħdija u ntrifsu, u l-għasafar tal-ajru naqqruhom kollha. Oħrajn waqgħu fuq il-blat, u nibtu u nixfu, għax tira ma kellhomx. Oħrajn waqgħu qalb ix-xewk, u x-xewk kiber magħhom u ħanaqhom. Oħrajn waqgħu f’art tajba, u nibtu u għamlu l-frott kull waħda mija” (Lq 8:5-8). Il-Konċilju kellu jkun qawwa kbira ta’ “aġġornament” tal-Knisja. Kif darba stqarr il-Papa tal-Konċilju, Pawlu VI, “il-Knisja kollha għandha tadatta ruħha għall-ħtiġijiet ġodda tad-dinja; fid-dawl tat-tagħlim tal-Konċilju, il-Knisja kollha hija impenjata għal dan it-tiġdid spiritwali u organizzattiv”.
Napprezzaw li frott ta’ dan il-Konċilju, fil-Knisja lokali saru diversi riformi, bħal, per eżempju, l-aġġornament fil-Liturġija u l-mod kif tiġi ċċelebrata bis-sehem aktar attiv tal-poplu, is-sehem tal-lajċi fil-qasam aktar wiesa’ tal-Katekeżi u tad-Djakonija, l-attenzjoni tal-Knisja lokali għall-ħtiġijiet tas-soċjetà, kif ukoll l-attenzjoni tagħha għal dawk l-aktar imbegħdin, l-insara mifrudin u saħansitra dawk li jħaddnu reliġjonijiet oħra jew li ma jħaddnu ebda twemmin. Imma billi xi żerriegħa waqgħet fuq il-blat u qalb ix-xewk, forsi din għadha ma tatx il-frott kollu mixtieq.
that 'the love of that language would grow ever strong among candidates for the priesthood.' The Pope's message itself was written in Latin, and read by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican Secretary of State. The conference to which the Pope addressed this message was commemorating the 40th anniversary of Veterum Sapientia, the apostolic constitution in which Pope John XXIII wrote of the importance of Latin as an important part of 'the patrimony of human civilization.' Pope John Paul underlined the same message, pointing out that the use of Latin 'is an indispensable condition for a proper relationship between modernity and antiquity, for dialogue among different cultures, and for reaffirming the identity of the Catholic priesthood.' (CWNews, 2002)
Pope Benedict XVI: In order to express more clearly the unity and universality of the Church, I wish to endorse the proposal made by the Synod of Bishops, in harmony with the directives of the Second Vatican Council, that, with the exception of the readings, the homily and the prayer of the faithful, it is fitting that such liturgies be celebrated in Latin. Similarly, the better-known prayers of the Church's tradition should be recited in Latin and, if possible, selections of Gregorian chant should be sung. Speaking more generally, I ask that future priests, from their time in the seminary, receive the preparation needed to understand and to celebrate Mass in Latin, and also to use Latin texts and execute Gregorian chant; nor should we forget that the faithful can be taught to recite the more common prayers in Latin, and also to sing parts of the liturgy to Gregorian chant. (Sacramentum Caritatis, 2007)
