[kosta50]

Your answer is well received. I just don't think "numbers" per say really mean that much to the Church. We all know that before the End, the Church will become invisible and we also know that "few shall find the way" through the narrow gate, and that passing through the eye of the needle is not soemthing most of us can do. The Church is an Organism that does not depend on us; rather we depend on Her for life. Without the Church and the life-giving Spirit we are just dirt (no pun intended).

In that sense, +Benedict XVI is right on the button -- he is prepared to have a smaller Church, if need be, but not a "Protestant" organization that follows trends. Again, numbers are immaterial in this case (also no pun intended).

[RKBA Democrat]

"Your answer is well received. I just don't think "numbers" per say really mean that much to the Church."

Thanks and I agree. Ultimately, I don't think it's going to be great numbers finding "the way" in any case.

Pope Benedict XVI, or Western Patriarch Benedict XVI if you prefer, expects smaller Catholic churches. And I think he recognizes that diluting the faith is not the path to take. Having been the head of CDF for 20 + years, he more than most anyone has a pretty good idea of what the true status of things are in the Catholic churches. And I think that worldview colors his actions a great deal.

(I also think that goes a long way to explain his enthusiasm for greater collaboration or unity with the Orthodox churches.)