Rome - Pope John Paul II, outlining some of the "enormous challenges" facing the Catholic Church in the new millennium, yesterday called for a more missionary church, one that was ever closer to the poor and needy and one which emphasised both the central role of the Pope and of the collegiality of the bishops, writes Paddy Agnew.
The Pope made his remarks during a solemn Mass in St Peter's Basilica, which marked the conclusion of this week's four-day extraordinary consistory of cardinals. Many of the themes touched on by the Pope yesterday were also highlighted in a brief final message from the 155 cardinals who took part.
