Three popes involved in the Second Vatican Council have been canonized saints: Pope John XXIII, Pope John Paul II, and Pope Paul VI, whom we remember in our liturgy today. They were declared saints, not just because they were popes, but because of their holiness and their involvement and promotion of the council. 

All of them recognized the Second Vatican Council as the work of the Holy Spirit and each, in his own way, implemented the council. Pope Leo continues the work of the popes before him. 

The popes often describe the council as the path the church must take into the future. Some years ago,   Pope Francis described that path as the road Jesus took from Jericho to Jerusalem to enter the  mystery of his death and resurrection. A winding road, not easy to travel. According to Mark’s gospel his journey began with a delay. Jesus stopped to engage Bartimaeus, the blind beggar. 

The path has unexpected turns and delays.  It can’t be scheduled by a calendar or the best of church planning. It’s the work of the Holy Spirit who is above human planning.

Paul VI was involved especially in the liturgical changes of the council. The shape of our liturgy today is largely due to him. A brilliant man, he also very cautious , with a mind for details. As liturgical changes were being discussed at the council and implemented afterwards, a strong minority in the church urged him to go slowly and not to change much.  Despite their great pressure he trusted and supported  the theologians, catechists and pastors who produced our present liturgy.

Take a look at an early picture of the road from Jericho to Jerusalem, taken from the air in the 1930s. That’s the path of Vatican II.

Two of Pope Paul’s letters are particularly important. Ecclesiam suam on dialogue with the world, and Progressio populorum on the need for the development of peoples.