Doubt whether Leo XIV will revive permissions for Latin Masses

 

"With the arrival of Pope Prevost, the music has changed." The thesis put forward by Il Messaggero seems to be the same as that endorsed, at least as far as they are concerned, by some of the most fervent defenders of Latin Masses, who hope that the arrival of Leo XIV to the papal throne will put an end to what they considered the "persecutions" of Pope Francis. And the truth is that Prevost has offered some conciliatory messages, such as a greeting to the meeting of traditionalist priests in Chartres. The diocesan bishop asserted that "Pope Leo prays for every pilgrim who experiences a personal encounter with Christ."

Will there be a reversal of the restrictions on Latin Masses? Everything seems to indicate no, but it also seems that this pontiff has placed unity and communion at the heart of his Pontificate, and that some gesture toward the more conservative sectors is more than likely, very happy to see the recovery of some liturgies or vestments, forgotten during Francis's pontificate.

In fact, these sectors trust that, at the very least, Leo XIV will relax the rules that, in practice, prevent them from creating uncontrolled traditionalist communities, appealing to the necessary restoration of unity in the Church. Since 2023, Bishops have had to obtain express approval from the Vatican to allow Latin Masses in their respective dioceses.

Interestingly, Francis took this measure to stem the division that, in the opinion of many, these ultra-conservative sectors were fomenting, using the liturgy as a way to attack the reforms implemented since the Second Vatican Council, the same one that consecrated the Gospel and the liturgy in vernacular languages.

Müller, for restitution

Shortly after his election, Cardinal Müller, one of the champions of the anti-Francis movement, suggested to Leo XIV the urgency of addressing Traditionis Custodes, which in his opinion was "harmful and unnecessary" for the Church, and he called for the lifting of the restrictions.

“We cannot absolutely condemn or prohibit the right and legitimate form of the Latin liturgy,” Müller noted, maintaining that Prevost “is capable of speaking with people and finding a very good solution that is good for everyone.” This statement is similar to that made by the Cardinal of Singapore, Monsignor Goh, who emphasized that there is “nothing wrong or sinful” in the Tridentine Masses.

For the moment, Leo XIV has not commented, although he did ask the French bishops (the neighboring country is one of the cradles of traditionalism) “not to simply evoke nostalgia for a past that might seem like it has passed, but to awaken hope and give rise to a new missionary impulse.”

Source

Cathcon: Without the lifting of these restrictions the Church will accelerate towards a new, deeper and colder winter.