The Church must be "poor and free" to be able to speak to contemporary humanity. Quoting his predecessor Paul VI during Mass celebrated in Brescia in heart of the diocese where Pope Giovanni Battista Montini was born in 1897, Benedict XVI recalled the importance of the Church in the salvation of humanity and the need to establish a relationship of understanding and love with society. (INSERT PAPA) Benedict XVI said the Pope from Brescia devoted all his energies to a church as conformed to the Lord Jesus Christ as possible, so that in encountering it, modern man can meet Him, because we have an absolute need of Him. This is the basic desire of Vatican II. Benedict XVI also emphasized that the encounter ... (less info)