Pope Francis Not Deterred By Backlash To Latin Mass Changes

Publish date: 2024-05-02

Pope Francis will not change his stance on reimposing restrictions on the traditional Latin Mass in the Vatican, Italy.

In December 2021, the Vatican released a document detailing the restrictions on the pre-Vatican II liturgy, which includes a prohibition on listing Latin Masses in parish bulletins.

Over thirteen years ago, Pope Benedict XVI granted Catholics permission to reinstate the Traditional Latin Mass and reincorporate ancient prayers and liturgies for baptisms, confirmations, and ordinations.

Pope Francis revealed this would be reversed because the reform had become a point of contention within the Church, having been exploited by Catholics who opposed the Second Vatican Council and meetings held in the 1960s that modernized the church.

Many conservative worshippers have debated the subject online, accusing the Pope of watering down Catholic doctrine.

A new policy states that all clergy in the Chicago Archdiocese must attain the archbishop’s permission to celebrate the Latin Mass, a rule that will come into effect on January 25. 

The Latin Mass – Explained

Traditionally, the Latin Mass – the common name for the Tridentine Mass – is the older form of mass authorized for use by the Roman Catholic Church from 1570.

In the 1960s, the Second Vatican Council sought to update the rules of the church, replacing the traditional Latin Mass with an updated and modernized edition.

During the Tridentine Mass, everything is conducted in Latin. The priest faces East, leading the community behind them rather than addressing the congregation.

It is seen as extremely staunch, as everything must be done exactly as stated by the rubrics.

In the 1960s, the Church decided that the liturgy was changeable and could thus be altered and adapted to better serve a community that was changing with the times – suiting a wider variety of Christians.

Pope Francis’ Traditionis Custodes

Pope Francis and the Vatican decided to reverse his predecessor’s declaration of reinstating Latin Mass across the Catholic Church.

The new documents forbid the use of the ancient ritual for the sacraments of Confirmation and the ordaining of new Priests.

It will also make it difficult for traditionalists to gain access to the old rite sacraments of baptism, marriage, and anointing of the sick.

Pope Francis has also barred the creation of new parishes, saying that traditional sacraments can henceforth only be celebrated in alleged personal parishes that had previously existed and were dedicated to traditionalist worship.

How Have Traditionalists Reacted?

The Pope’s statement and documents regarding the Latin Mass have been met with considerable backlash.

The Catholic association called La Voie Romaine is gathering supporters from across the globe to march between Paris and Rome on May 1.

The association is collecting letters in which traditionalist worshippers express their concern about the recent news and attempt to convince the Pope of their liturgical attachment to traditional rites.

The group hopes that their joint march will convince the Pope of the importance of the traditional Latin Mass.

La Voie Romaine founder, Benoît Sévillia, says:

“The purpose [of the march] for the Pope to realize that the heart of the Church also beats through these Christians, especially in countries like France,” 

He added that if Pope Francis were to continue imposing restrictions, then “he would risk plunging thousands of Christians into great despair and disarray, because a certain number of them would be refused access to the Church from one day to the next.”

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