The Traditional Latin Mass: What Might Leo Do?

According to in-the-know vaticanisti, somewhere on Pope Leo’s long to-do list is a line that reads “Traditional Latin Mass” – that is, the old rite, extraordinary form, usus antiquior, or (in the Holy See’s current zingy phrase) “the Missal antecedent to the reform of 1970”. Given everything else going on in both Church and world, we might assume that it is rather far down the list. But Leo seems energetic and efficient. And this, perhaps, might prove one of the easier items to tick off with satisfaction.

The Extraordinary Form of the Mass offered in Stasbourg Cathedral. Credit: Christophe117/wikimedia CC BY SA 4.0

Certainly, something needs to be done. Pope Francis’ 2021 Traditionis custodes heavily restricted celebrations of the TLM, repealing his own predecessor Benedict’s sweeping liberalization in 2007’s Summorum pontificum. Chief among Francis’ reasons were that “a rejection not only of the liturgical reform, but of the Vatican Council II itself” was rife among TLM congregations. Well-placed sources suggest that America was a source of special concern on this front.

Nevertheless, the problem – if it is indeed a problem – of thriving TLM congregations, disproportionately attracting those who, born long after the Council, ought to be young enough to know better,