Alberto Melloniis a church historian known especially for his work on the Second Vatican Council... (wikipedia)
Basically what concerns Benedict XVI is the heart of the Church, and in his view of things concrete history is not part of that.
He has to decide whether to hold a synod different from the past, in which bishops have the possibility not only of being listened to but of making decisions.
He is the most highly ranked member of the Curia that the U.S. has ever had.
We have to see in the next couple of days if the Chinese government will congratulate Cardinal Zen or not.
Those red shoes have made quite an impression.
Thanks to the council, young people have been taught to see the world not simply as a threat to Christian life, but as an opportunity to announce the Gospel.
Younger Catholics may not be as intellectually aware of the council, but they are continually experiencing its effects.
This can be done in a thousand different ways, but the question is: Will collegiality have a turning point?
This pope wants to get to the essentials. He wants to be listened to. It's clarity he's after, not stardom.