Pope Francis, Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter, and Vatican II

By Harry E. Berndt

 

Pope Francis appears almost daily in the news, and it is like a breath of fresh air. The message the Pope is sending to the world is reminiscent of the similar message of the St. Louis Archbishop Joseph E. Ritter, and of Vatican II. The similarities are self-evident; justice and equality for people of whatever persuasion. The struggles I remember most from the 1960’s and 1970’s are the civil rights struggles, of which Martin Luther King was pre-eminent, and those of Catholics resulting from Vatican Two. The people involved were not seeking power for themselves, but rather they sought power for the powerless and the poor. St. Louis Catholics were fortunate in having as their Archbishop Joseph E. Ritter. In fact, some would say that the entire St. Louis community was fortunate in having Archbishop Ritter. A St. Louis Globe Democrat editorial stated, “Even non-Catholics often speak of him as ‘our cardinal’.”

Archbishop Ritter was made a Cardinal by Pope John XXIII in 1962. Shortly thereafter, Pope John the XXIII opened Vatican II, and Archbishop Ritter, as the newest member of the College of Cardinals, attended.  The United States Catholics were well represented by two powerful cardinals, Cardinal Cushing of Boston and Cardinal Spellman of New York. But in the eyes of many European Bishops, it was the new cardinal from St. Louis, Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter, who made the greatest impact on Vatican II. Although the youngest cardinal from the standpoint of tenure, he was uninhibited by the brilliant theological minds gathered in Rome from all over the world. He spoke boldly and plainly for what he believed, and he gave Rome a new image of the American Cardinal. Long before the Council had finished its work, he was widely recognized as one of the men making contemporary Church history. Ritter took leadership roles on issues of ecumenism, freedom of conscience, race, and the use of the vernacular in the Mass. He suggested the extension of the title Church to Protestant denominations, and insisted that the council absolve the Jews from all blame for the death of Christ.

The Catholic Church moved away from Vatican II in recent years, as it became more and more conservative in its public pronouncements. The pronouncements of Pope Francis indicate a return to the ideals of Vatican II and a greater concern for the well - being of the poorest of the world. The world welcomes Pope Francis and his message of peace and love for all people, poor and rich alike, and the people of St. Louis can look back and be proud of their Archbishop, whose ideals preceded those of Pope Francis, and were of the same intention as those of the Pope.