Traditional Latin Mass Dispute Is Fight for Catholic Faith

The new Pope Leo XIV has kept relatively quiet on all the cultural and theological fissures that seemed to be roiling the Catholic Church under Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. An Augustinian priest operating in Peru, he seemed removed from the curiously intense debate about the “Traditional Latin Mass” (TLM) — the traditional form of the Roman Rite that was practiced up until the post-Vatican II reforms of the 1970s. That debate was curiously intense because it seemed to involve a relatively small number of Catholics worldwide. However, it had been obvious since Benedict XVI’s reign that this small group of Catholics was young and energetic, and amounted to an avant-garde for Catholicism in France and the United States.

Leo XIV had said nothing substantial on this question before his pontificate, but has admitted that in private audiences and in private letters he is facing many requests to relax the restrictions put on the traditional rite by his predecessor. (Pope Francis reversed the generous permissions given by Benedict in 2021.) So far, Leo has indicated only that he wanted to meet with groups advocating for the Old Rite, and has cautioned against polarization.

About the Author

Michael Brendan Dougherty

Michael Brendan Dougherty is a senior writer at National Review Online.

Featured Tags

Manage following

Catholicism

Pope Leo XIV

The new Pope Leo XIV has kept relatively quiet on all the cultural and theological fissures that seemed to be roiling the Catholic Church under Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. An Augustinian priest operating in Peru, he seemed removed from the curiously intense debate about the “Traditional Latin Mass” (TLM) — the traditional form of the Roman Rite that was practiced up until the post-Vatican II reforms of the 1970s. That debate was curiously intense because it seemed to involve a relatively small number of Catholics worldwide. However, it had been obvious since Benedict XVI’s reign that this small group of Catholics was young and energetic, and amounted to an avant-garde for Catholicism in France and the United States.

Leo XIV had said nothing substantial on this question before his pontificate, but has admitted that in private audiences and in private letters he is facing many requests to relax the restrictions put on the traditional rite by his predecessor. (Pope Francis reversed the generous permissions given by Benedict in 2021.) So far, Leo has indicated only that he wanted to meet with groups advocating for the Old Rite, and has cautioned against polarization.