Thanks. Kjvail is in charge of the "Crown Crew" ping list.
Part of the problem is that since Vatican II the Church has effectively embraced modern democracy by abandoning the monarchical trappings of the papacy and severing its traditional ties with European monarchism. Cardinal Ratzinger himself said that Vatican II was the Church's attempt to "come to terms with the new era inaugurated in 1789."
Now, it sounds like the Pope is starting to sense that maybe this new era isn't so great. But he and his immediate predecessors cannot entirely escape responsibility for the lamentable state of contemporary Europe. The beatification of Emperor Karl I was a marvelous step in the right direction. But Rome will need to firmly repudiate the evil ideals of 1789 before she is capable of leading Europe away from godlessness.
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I am looking forward to reading this book, English edition is due out in a few months (currently only available in Italian)
Yes, Peter stepped out of the boat but didn't have enough faith in him and started to sink into the waters. How long will he wait before crying out "Lord save me!" Christ asks for faith and rebukes Peter's doubt. And doubt is the hallmark of modernism and all its forms starting with DesCartes.