The text of the Pope’s year-end speech to the Curia (at least the first part. Second part is forthcoming, I assume)

In relation to the Second Vatican Council:

It could be said that three tiers of questions were formed that now, at the hour of Vatican II, awaited a response.  First and foremost, it was necessary to define in a new way the relationship between faith and modern science; this regarded, however, not only natural sciences, but also historical sciences because, in a certain school, the historical-critical method claimed for itself the final words on the interpretation of the Bible and, demanding full exclusiveness for its understanding of Sacred Scriptures, it opposed, on important points, the interpretation that the faith of the Church had elaborated.  Secondly, it was necessary to define in a new way the relationship between the Church and the modern state, which made room to citizens of various religions and ideologies, acting impartially towards these religions and simply taking on the responsibility for the orderly and tolerant coexistence between citizens and for their freedom to exercise their religion.  To this, thirdly, was connected in a more general way the problem of religious tolerance — a question that called for a new definition of the relationship between Christian faith and religion in the world.  In particular, in the face of the recent crimes of the National-Socialist regime and, in general, in a retrospective look on a long and difficult history, it was necessary to evaluate and define in a new way the relationship between the Church and the faith of Israel.