Cardinal Arthur Roche has stated that Pope Leo has no intention of changing Pope Francis’ restrictions on the traditional liturgy.
In a newly published interview with The Tablet, Cdl. Roche addressed the topic of the liturgy, dampening speculation that Leo XIV would reverse course on the restrictions imposed by his predecessor. In Roche’s mind the situation was clear:
“No, Pope Leo is not going to change Traditionis Custodes, and he’s not going back to Summorum Pontificum.”
The traditional Mass, he said, is “a very complex area” but also “a very important area because the Eucharist is the sacrament of unity: it's the place where we should all be able to be together to celebrate Mass.”
“So if it [the Eucharist] begins to divide us, there’s something seriously amiss,” he added.
Referencing encounters with devotees of the traditional Mass, Roche said that he did not understand their concerns in wanting more access to the old rite. “Well, the Holy Father has given you that, so what’s the problem?,” he questioned.
Continuing with a criticism of traditional Mass attendees, the cardinal added: “But then they go away and say, ‘We’re still being persecuted.’ In what way persecuted? Why is the band still playing a tune that is discordant with the life of the Church?”
Roche has served as prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship since May 2021, and as such his five-year term of office technically reached a conclusion this year, along with that of the DDW’s secretary Archbishop Viola.
During the course of his prefecture he has emerged as a firm opponent to the traditional liturgy, although in interviews he has denied this characterisation. In early 2022, Roche repeated his previous sentiments, styling the remaining provisions of the Latin Mass as just “a pastoral concession,” and arguing that the growth of the Latin Mass “couldn’t be tolerated because the (Second Vatican) Council had changed the way in which we’re going forward. That’s just a simple matter.”
Interview by the BBC in 2023, Roche further argued that “the theology of the Church has changed” and thus the liturgy must do likewise.
Speaking to The Tablet, Roche said that “what Vatican II did was to say that the Church needs to be more missionary than it had been, and that to prepare people to be missionary, the very central core of the life of the Church, which is the Eucharist, has to nourish people in a different way.”
As on previous occasions, he proposed the often rebuffed argument that the new liturgy presented greater access to the Scriptures, saying: “The abundant diet of Scripture that is now given through the celebration of the Mass and the sacraments is something that wasn't available to use before, but it is now.”
Roche also praised the change of emphasis between the old and new liturgy, commenting that in the traditional rite “the priest is acting on behalf of the congregation”, whilst in the Novus Ordo “the baptised people are a priestly people, they too are celebrating with the priest.” This critique of the traditional liturgy has also been rebuffed by Latin Mass attendees, who point to Pope Pius XII’s encyclical Mediator Dei as already teaching that “the whole Church can rightly be said to offer up the victim through Christ.”
The English cardinal’s comments regarding the traditional Mass are very much in line with those given in recent years. It was under his tenure that Pope Francis issued Traditionis Custodes in July 2021, which ushered in sweeping restrictions on the traditional rite and abrogated Benedict XVI’s Summorum Pontificum. Roche then bolstered those restrictions with rescripts of his own some months later.
The restrictions were described as based on a survey the Vatican conducted, asking the world’s bishops about the reception of Summorum Pontificum in their dioceses. Recent reports revealed that – contrary to the narrative supplied – the survey results were actually positive to the traditional Mass, and at the very least opposed to implementing restrictions. Indeed, Archbishop Alexander Sample stated this week that he told the Vatican “if you want to see division, put more restrictions on this Mass within the Church. That is going to create division.”
One prominent advocate of the traditional liturgy, Cardinal Raymond Burke, commented in June 2025 that he had already spoken to the Pope about the traditional Mass, expressing his hope that change would soon occur: “It is my hope that he will – as soon as it is possible – take up the study of this question and try to restore the situation as it was after Summorum Pontificum and even to develop what Pope Benedict XVI had so wisely and lovingly legislated for the Church.”
Many such calls have been made in recent weeks, with cardinals, bishops and canon lawyers all lending their voice to Burke’s in light of the episcopal consecrations performed by the Society of Saint Pius X.
Leo has professed himself somewhat ignorant on the topic at the start of his pontificate, but since then has met with a number of prominent advocates of the old rite and shown himself more amenable to it that his predecessor.
This spring, Leo instructed the French bishops to find “concrete solutions” allowing for the “generous inclusion of those sincerely attached to the Vetus Ordo, in accordance with the guidelines established by the Second Vatican Council regarding the liturgy.” The Pope is “particularly attentive” to the growth of Latin Mass communities, Cardinal Pietro Parolin wrote on Leo’s behalf.
As such, Roche’s comments appear to be conflicting with the spirit of Leo’s own remarks. Time will be the judge of whether the cardinal is proven right, but it is no small matter that for many months rumours have been building that he will soon be replaced at the DDW. If Roche does leave his current role then his replacement would be a clear case of personnel being policy.
Michael Haynes is an English journalist in the Holy See Press Corps. He serves as Vatican Correspondent for the Catholic Herald, while readers can follow him at Per Mariam and on X @MLJHaynes.
