Vatican II

The church had grown increasingly liberal since Vatican II. Confession was rarely mentioned, Latin largely abandoned.

The progressive priests who dominated the U.S. church in the years after Vatican II are now in their 70s and 80s.

Vatican II modernised the liturgy, including more active participation by the congregation.

“It’s impossible to know where that path will lead by the end of 2024 — but these next two years could easily turn out to be the most decisive since Vatican II.”

Benedict, who as a young priest had served as a theological adviser to Cardinal Josef Richard Frings at Vatican II, later came to believe that the changes had weakened the church.