According to the Vatican Communications Director (? - not sure of her title), this was their reaction. She appears nightly as a guest of Raymond Arroyo who is hosting a new program Inside The Vatican on EWTN. She made these comments last Friday after the funeral.
The Cardinal's reactions were made before they began their Media silence. Consider the turnout of presidents and potentates. First US President to attend a papal funeral - and with 2 former US Presidents, the Presidents of Israel, Iran and Iraq - who shook hands during the Sign of Peace (check the news reports). The reaction extended to other parts of the world. North Korean catholics 'televised' at a memorial mass for the pope; AlJazeera broadcasting the pope's funeral live throughout the Middle East .... you get the picture.
Joan (that's her first name) commented on the Cardinals' reactions to leaders of other faiths who came to Rome for the pope's funeral (without precedent) to those that signed Memorial Registries around the world. According to her, they grasped the extent to which this pope's message had spread and realize that this must continue with the next pontiff.
They also marveled at the 3 million + pilgrims that flocked to Rome and stood in line for up to 24 hours to view the pope. These included people who flew, at great personal expense, to Rome for a 1 minute final glimpse, to pay their last respects. The Cardinals realized that this pope's 'message' is one that was embraced and must continue. He never wavered on his pro-life message; he lived it.
Can you perhaps point out these youth?
In case you missed this thread, here is one example of how youth have responded - A small, sturdy band of 'John Paul priests'(JPII legacy of conservative priests) . EWTN has interviewed many priests over the past few days, who all claim to have been drawn to JPII's message "Follow me". Perhaps you should watch some of the programs on EWTN to better understand just how far that message extended and the increasing enrollment of "JPII" priests in the seminaries.
I would be more inclined to believe that these liberals would have spread their poison to the younger generation, who, in turn, would pick up where they had left off, and further the efforts of their deceased elders.
There was another thread recently, on this topic. If you do some research on just the US seminaries, you will discover that in those diocese run by the more liberal bishops, vocations have trickled off whereas the dioceses run by those bishops who adhere to a more traditional formation, the seminaries are full.
This seems the more obvious progression of things.
It would be IF they could attract young men to their formation programs. It's not happening. In fact, one NY seminary that once taught more 'progressive' courses, has turned completely around. Now the seminarians are once again returning.
You obviously have very little faith or are a cynic. The Holy Spirit guides and protects the Catholic Church. What happened in the 70's and 80's is long over. The new generation of priests and seminarians hold fast to the truths and are bringing back the flock. To their ranks, add the number of former protestant clergy who have converted, and are actively at work in various dioceses throughout the US, evangelizing back the catholics who strayed.
That is the normal progression, if you trust and believe in what our Lord promised.
From what I gather, John Paul's message to be continued is the Prolife message, and the Cardinals are embracing this message, and the rest of the world's leaders are showing enthusiasm for it. Does that sound about right?
"In case you missed this thread, here is one example of how youth have responded - A small, sturdy band of 'John Paul priests'(JPII legacy of conservative priests)."
I didn't miss that one. It was a Christian Science Monitor article which referenced all those ordained during the last pontificate. Is this the group you refer to?
"EWTN has interviewed many priests over the past few days, who all claim to have been drawn to JPII's message "Follow me".
Would it be safe to assume that since the pope's message, which the Cardinals are beginning to understand, is nothing less than prolife, that to "follow me" means simply "be pro life"?
"Perhaps you should watch some of the programs on EWTN to better understand just how far that message extended and the increasing enrollment of "JPII" priests in the seminaries."
I can't get there from here. No EWTN available.
From what I gathered though, the "JPII priests" referred to the whole group of I think it was 17,000 priests ordained during his pontificate and not just those who adhered to the pope's message, in contrast to others whom may not have.
Does "JPII priests" refer to all of them, or only some of them?
"There was another thread recently, on this topic. If you do some research on just the US seminaries, you will discover that in those diocese run by the more liberal bishops, vocations have trickled off whereas the dioceses run by those bishops who adhere to a more traditional formation, the seminaries are full."
Can you provide an example?
"In fact, one NY seminary that once taught more 'progressive' courses, has turned completely around. Now the seminarians are once again returning."
That's great news. Which seminary is this in New York, and what are the others that are returning?
"You obviously have very little faith or are a cynic."
I must say I feel a bit hurt; you seemed knowledgeable and helpful on these matters, and I just want to know and do the right Catholic thing. I wasn't really expecting someone to question my faith in the Church.
If I touched a nerve, I'm sorry for that. I'll try harder to fall in line with your position.