COMMENTARY: There is a calmness in the Holy Father’s remarks that sends a message to combatants to back away from the liturgical cliff and start thinking more unitively.
At his general audience Aug. 26, Pope Leo XIV reflected upon Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Second Vatican Council’s document on liturgy, offering his most detailed catechesis yet on the liturgical reforms implemented by Pope Paul VI and the so-called Novus Ordo.
His comments have now been parsed from several quarters looking for clues as to what direction he will go when it comes to the contentious issues swirling in the so-called “liturgy wars.”
I think the overall message he delivered is typical of his style so far. His words are cautious but clear, making it known that the Catholic Church is not going to veer under his watch in any direction that will undermine its unity. Nor does he give any indication that big changes to liturgical practice are in our future. As such, like so much else in this young pontificate, there is a calmness in his remarks that I think is deliberately chosen to send the message that folks need to back away from the liturgical cliff and start thinking
