Cardinals: Like a father, pope has guided church in confusing times

Published: 2003-10-15

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The world's cardinals opened a Vatican conference on Pope John Paul II's first 25 years, saying the pope had guided the church through a time of confusion with the sure touch of an understanding father. The conference began Oct. 15, and over the following four days was to offer a retrospective on several key aspects of the pope's ministry. The pope did not attend the sessions, but the cardinals were joined by heads of bishops' conferences and Roman Curia officials. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, convened the meeting by thanking the pope for energetically preaching the Gospel and posing its questions to modern men and women. "We thank the Lord for having given us this pastor who, in an age full of confusion and danger, confirms us, his brothers, in the faith," Cardinal Ratzinger said. "At a time when many no longer want to follow the Lord because his message seems too difficult, he tells us with the words of St. Peter: 'Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,'" he said.

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