I've never been a fan of Paul VI. Undoubtly a good man, he was elected to carry out the council and the direction in which Good Pope John was leading the church. His shining moments were Evangelii Nuntiandi and his plea at the UN "War no more!"

Almost immediately after election he fell victim to the heavy handed pressure of the small conservative minority at the council led by the Curia. His "Nota Praevia" to Lumen Gentium was aimed at intimidating the large majority of bishops at the council.

Long before he botched up the birth control question he started his makeover from the progressive prelate he had been, intimidated by by the fearmongers. And still he was despised as "Amleto" by those reactionary prelates he bowed down to.