We recall the poignant words of Saint John XXIII when, opening the Council, he indicated the path to follow: “Now the Bride of Christ wishes to use the medicine of mercy rather than taking up arms of severity… The Catholic Church, as she holds high the torch of Catholic truth at this Ecumenical Council, wants to show herself a loving mother to all; patient, kind, moved by compassion and goodness toward her separated children”.[2] Blessed Paul VI spoke in a similar vein at the closing of the Council: “We prefer to point out how charity has been the principal religious feature of this Council… the old story of the Good Samaritan has been the model of the spirituality of the Council… a wave of affection and admiration flowed from the Council over the modern world of humanity.
Yanatujia tena akilini mwetu yale maneno mazito ya mtangulizi wetu Mtakatifu Yohane XXIII, alipokuwa anaufungua Mtaguso, ambapo alionyesha njia ya kufuata, akisema: “Kwa wakati huu Mchumba wa Kristo anapendezwa kutumia dawa ya huruma kuliko ukali,... Kanisa Katoliki, likiwa linainua juu mwanga wa ukweli wa kidini katika Mtaguso huu mkuu, linapenda kujionyesha kuwa ni Mama mpendwa sana wa wote, mi pendevu, lenye uvumilivu, linalowaka moto wa mapendo kwa watoto wake waliojitenga”. [2] Mwenyeheri Paulo VI alisema kwa moyo huohuo alipofunga Mtaguso: “Tunapenda zaidi kuonyesha namna gani upendo umekuwa ni msingi wa kidini katika Mtaguso wetu... masimulizi ya zamani ya Msamaria Mwema yamekuwa ni mfano na kanuni iliyoongoza madhumuni ya kiroho ya Mtaguso wetu.... Mtaguso ulichukua matazamio na matamanio ya watu wa nyakati zetu.