The Council of Joseph Ratzinger Notes on its activity during the Vatican II

Joseph Ratzinger was, during the Council, the peritus and assistant of Cardinal Josef Frings from Cologne. The activity of the young theologian was intense, although it is not easy to evaluate his possible influence in the Council. He took part in the rejection of the schemata presented by the Preparatory Commission, and he made contributions on the subjects of the collegiality of the bishops and the relationship between Scripture and Tradition proposed by Del verbum. He received with enthusiasm the liturgical renovation proposed by Sacrosanctum concilium, while at the same time proposing the figure of Mary as the first Church. Finally, in the last few sessions, he worked on the decree Ad gentes, and on the final redaction of Gaudium et spes (n. 10).