” “The churches that have been built in Belgium since the end of the twentieth century are "religious buildings that do offer a truly well-balanced as well as very open overall setting", which reflects both liturgical requirements and architectural specifications. It was stated this morning by Frédéric Debuyst from the Benedictine monastery of Clerlande, as he spoke at the international meeting on "Architecture and liturgy in the twentieth century. An exchange of European experiences", which is under way in Venice. According to the monk, the Council marked a turning point for Belgium and paved the way to the appearance of "a true modernity". A movement started in the years of the Council, which "has never slowed down so far" and, "steadily encouraged by the Bishops", has dealt with "such key issues, such as the living assembly, the double polarity of the Word and the altar, the deep unity of the place". Jose Manuel Fernandes, professor at the department of architecture of the University of Lisbon, spoke instead about tension "between the idea of modernity and the fundamental concepts of the religious space", as he illustrated the situation in Portugal, where "in the twentieth century, the religious architecture of the Catholic Church has taken on specific traits, an expression of the values, the changes and the conflicts that have run through the Country".” “
