On this date, Aug. 6, 1978, St. Pope Paul VI died. Media coverage was uncharitable in its estimation of his tenure, but as time passes it has become clear that he was the great pope of the 20th century.
Paul VI’s pontificate was shaped entirely by the 1962-65 Second Vatican Council. In the 1963 conclave that elected him, he was the candidate of those cardinals who wanted to continue the council and its agenda of reform and renewal. As pope, he was tasked with overseeing the last three sessions of the council, bringing it to a successful close. And the rest of his pontificate was dedicated to beginning the implementation of the vision the council had given to the church. These were massive achievements.
At Vatican II, he achieved near unanimous consensus. The most contentious document at Vatican II was the decree on religious liberty, Dignitatis Humanae. It went through many drafts, each one aiming to achieve greater consensus on the meaning of the word freedom in the context of religion. Large theological issues were at stake. Some bishops were dead set against any doctrinal change whatsoever. Yet, the final text was approved by a vote of 2,308 in favor and 70 against. This was no mere majority. This was an overwhelming (97%) consensus. Paul’s interventions — and his patience in letting the process work itself out — made that consensus possible and, finally, inevitable.
The other documents of Vatican II were adopted by even larger vote totals. At times, Paul had intervened to satisfy conservative prelates, and other times he sided with those pushing for reform. Everyone was mad at him at some point, which is always the mark of a great leader.
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With thanks to the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) and Michael Sean Winters, where this article originally appeared.
