A sort of "anarchist utopianism," as one inspired in the Middle Ages by Joachim of Fiore, crept into Vatican II, but "the wise helmsman of the ship of Christ defended, on the one hand the novelty of the Church and, at the same time, the uniqueness and continuity of the Church, which is always a Church of sinners, and always a place of grace"."

Benedict XVI stated this today, at the general audience, returning to the figure of St. Bonaventure of Bagnoreggio. Faced with this temptation, explained the Pope, St. Bonaventure teaches us "all the necessary discernment, an even stern, sober realism and the openness to new gifts given by Christ in the Holy Spirit to his Church." For the Franciscan theologian of the thirteenth century, therefore, "God is one throughout history" and Jesus Christ is His last word. "The works of Christ are not lacking but prospering"," said Benedict XVI, quoting St. Bonaventure, because "Christ is the announcement of novelty and renewal in all periods of history."

Before today's general audience, the Pope met the faithful of the Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation in the Vatican Basilica who had came to Rome on pilgrimage as a sign of gratitude for the beatification last October 25 in Milan. He was an "apostle of modern times and a genius of Christian charity," said Benedict XVI in his greeting, "who, through meeting the challenges of his time, devoted himself with great eagerness to disabled children, victims of war, where he saw the face of God."