George Weigel’s new book To Sanctify the World: The Vital Legacy of Vatican II (Basic Books, 2022) is a tour de force in its study of the hermeneutics—that is, the manner of interpretation—of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965).
Weigel knows that the Church is at a crossroads, between two forks in the road: the liberal/progressive and conservative/neo-traditionalist. There is a conflict of interpretations here that had an effect within the Council itself and its ongoing reception in the last sixty years. And, in many ways, this conflict has been exacerbated by the pontificate of Francis, as I have argued at length in my book, Pope Francis: The Legacy of Vatican II (Lectio, 2019; 2nd edition). Since there is no mention of Pope Francis in Weigel’s book, evidently his writings, unlike the authoritative writings of John Paul II and Benedict XVI, are not taken as a subordinate criteria or hermeneutical key contributing to the deepening of our understanding and implementation of the vision of Vatican II and its documents.
To Sanctify the World addresses continuing challenge of interpreting Vatican II – Catholic World Report
To Sanctify the World addresses continuing challenge of interpreting Vatican II – Catholic World Report
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