Pope steps in again to restrict Latin Mass

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has intervened for the third time to restrict the celebration of the Old Mass in Latin, in a sign of continued tension with Catholic traditionalists.

In a new legal decree issued on Tuesday, the pontiff reaffirmed that the Holy See must approve all new celebrations of the old rite by approving bishops’ decisions to designate additional parish churches for the Latin Mass or to authorize new priests to command the office.

The document establishes that the Vatican liturgical office, headed by British Cardinal Arthur Roche, is responsible for evaluating this type of request on behalf of the Holy See and recalls that all requests from bishops must be directed there.

For weeks, traditionalist Catholic blogs and websites have reported that a new limitation on the Ancient Rite is in the works, following Francis’ decision in 2021 to reimpose restrictions on its use that had been relaxed by his predecessor, so Pope Benedict XVI, in 2007. .

The new decree does not further restrict the celebration but rather repeats previous regulations. His insistence on Roche’s authority in the process seemed to silence traditionalist claims that the cardinal had overstepped his mandate. Francis endorsed the executive order Monday during a private audience with Roche.

Francis’ limits on the old rite outraged his conservative and traditionalist critics, many of whom also attacked him for his attention to the environment, social justice and immigrants.