He reminded the council fathers that only a few years earlier Pope Pius XII had issued the encyclical Mystici corporis about the mystical body of Christ. He asked them not to repeat or create new dogmatic definitions but to explain in simple words how the Church sees itself. He thanked the representatives of other Christian communities for their attendance and asked for their forgiveness if the Catholic Church is guilty for the separation. He also reminded the Council Fathers that many bishops from the east could not attend because the governments in the East did not permit their journeys. COUNT 5
QSN1 What edict did Pope Pius XXIII issue regarding the body of Christ? ANS1 Mystici corporis QSN2 How is the body of Christ regarded by Catholic liturgy? ANS2 mystical QSN3 What type of language did Paul VI want to the church to relay dogma in? ANS3 simple QSN4 From what area were bishops prevented from attending the ecumenical meeting of Paul VI? ANS4 the east QSN5 What did Paul VI ask other Christian faiths forgiveness for? ANS5 separation