booklady’s Reviews > Paul VI: The First Modern Pope > Status Update

However much this author frustrates me with mixing opinion in with fact so much that I am never quite sure where one begins and the other ends, he has still taught me quite a lot. Learned on this page about Ministeria quaedam (not available on the Vatican website in English) which reformed the so-called "minor orders", abolishing 5 and opening the remaining 2 (lector and acolyte) to the laity.

(cont.) Accord. to author, ‘devotion at Fátima is modern, unhealthy, dubious theologically, & politically right-wing; the visit was ‘officially in response to invitation of the Portuguese bishops. And Paul spent his time explaining he was not doing what he appeared to be doing—celebrating the 50th anniversary of Mary’s appearance. To substantiate, the author quotes himself. The 2 million faithful-why did they come?

I was content with Mr. Hebblethwaite’s perspective--despite his tendency to impute motives to Paul IV which he had no possible way of knowing—because his extensive research left me at his mercy, until he got to talking about Fátima. Then I was on firm ground, detected error (i.e., reference to a 4th secret when there are only 3) as well as his blatant agenda.... (to be continued)

The last pope to even plan to visit the Holy Land was Innocent III who wanted to lead a Crusade implementing a decision of the 4th Lateran Council. But Paul went as a humble pilgrim to walk the Via Dolorosa by foot. While there he met with Sargent Shriver, President Johnson's special assistant to see how the president would view a papal visit to the United States.

Never had any idea he had such an important role during WWII. Was basically one of those closest to Pius XII.