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Ominous Title. Felici's ambiguously phrased letter implied that these directions had come directly from Pope Paul VI himself. Actually, as Bea and his secretariat soon discovered, the letter did not have papal approval. The suggestions had come from Amleto Cardinal Cicognani, who had no authority of his own to give the orders, despite his important roles as Vatican Secretary of State and president of the Council's Coordinating Commission...
...bishops' letter apparently proved effective. In interviews with Bea and Frings, Paul VI agreed that the Christian Unity office would bear the major responsibility for revising the two declarations, said also that the bishops themselves could decide whether a fourth session was necessary. Nonetheless, some Roman observers feared that there might be further attempts to render the declarations ineffective...
Sensing that the council is finally going their way, the bishops appear more confident of themselves, more inclined to treat Curial prelates as anachronistic staff officers rather than superiors. There was also a new tone in the bishops' references to Pope Paul VI, in which respect for his position was tempered by realistic appraisals of his qualities. Some bluntly described him as "afraid," "so sensitive," "in need of our help." "Let's face it," said one Australian bishop. "He's weak...
Discussion of Mary's relationship to the church was the session's first contro versial order of business, after an impressive solemn pontifical Mass concelebrated by Pope Paul VI and 24 other bishops, and a demand for speed by council officials. To help nudge matters along, the popular coffee bars on each side of the aula were not opened until 11, two hours after the morning sessions begin. But the Marian question may not be easily resolved, since the council fathers are closely divided between "maximalists" and "minimalists...
Prudent Change. Much depends on Pope Paul VI, whose encouragement of church reform has been balanced by a desire to conciliate the Curia professionals he must work with in governing the church. Last week, however, Paul indicated that his sympathies still lie with prudent change. He announced that for the first time in church history a select few nuns and laywomen would attend the council as auditors. And to open the third session, he planned to celebrate a pontifical Mass together with 24 bishops from around the world. Concelebration is an ancient practice restored to the Roman rite...