Fr. Z's Blog

Pope Francis allegedly made some negative comments about the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite and those who desire it.

My comments, below.

From Creative Minority Report:

Pope Francis has made what can only be called disparaging comments about the Traditional Latin Mass and its adherents.

Rorate Caeli reports that the Pope made comments to a Czech Bishop during his ad limina visit those who value and esteem the extraordinary form of the liturgy are merely caught up in a momentary fashion and thus as Pope he does not need to pay attention to them. Yup.

[Abp. Jan Graubner speaks:] When we were discussing those who are fond of the ancient liturgy and wish to return to it, it was evident that the Pope speaks with great affection, attention, and sensitivity for all in order not to hurt anyone. However, he made a quite strong statement when he said that he understands when the old generation returns to what it experienced, but that he cannot understand the younger generation wishing to return to it. “When I search more thoroughly – the Pope said – I find that it is rather a kind of fashion [in Czech: ‘móda’, Italian ‘moda’]. [Actually, a better rendering of “moda” here is “fad”.] And if it is a fashion [fad], therefore it is a matter that does not need that much attention. It is just necessary to show some patience and kindness to people who are addicted to a certain fashion. But I consider greatly important to go deep into things, because if we do not go deep, no liturgical form, this or that one, can save us.” [Go deep.   What does that mean?]

Besides being completely wrong, that the Pope is so disrespectful of the reasonable desires of so many good and faithful Catholics it is staggering in its coarseness and dismissiveness.

Not to mention, such an attitude is diametrically opposed to the attitudes and pronouncement of his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

I know that I have probably misinterpreted our humble Pope’s meaning and that the problem is me. For sure, the Pope seems to think that I am the problem. Please forgive me, I only speak Promethean. [ROFL!]

I wasn’t going to write on this, but my email box is filling up.

First, this is the third hand report of something that the Pope might have said.

There is an ad limina audience.  The Czech prelate says he chatted with the Pope for a bit.  Fine.  The Czech talks to Vatican Radio and recounts this stuff.  Maybe he does so accurately, maybe he doesn’t.  Vatican Radio then ineptly renders it and puts it around.

Bottom line: don’t worry about third hand accounts of informal, off-the-cuff remarks about the TLM.   If the Pope wants to abrogate Summorum Pontificum, he’ll do it in the proper, juridical way.

And does it surprise anyone that a Jesuit doesn’t quite get the whole traditional liturgy thing?

The Pope’s comments change nothing.

Even if we accept that Francis said these things, even if we accept that maybe Francis doesn’t care about the TLM or doesn’t get people who want it, who cares?  The provisions of Summorum Pontificum stand.

Therefore,…

Do not waiver.

Do not slow down.

Do not be downhearted.

Do not relent.

Do not budge.

Do not stop working.

We need more and more celebrations of the older form of Holy Mass in more and more places by more and more priests.

Keep at it.  Get those resources to priests.  Pay any price, offer any help, go the extra mile.

We shall not give up any ground.