Cardinal Sarah: reaction to my ad orientem speech was 'not always very accurate'

Cardinal Robert Sarah has said that comments he made during a conference in London earlier this year were not always interpreted accurately.

During his address to the clergy of the Archdiocese of Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 'Liturgical Life and the Priesthood', the Vatican's liturgy chief said: "Last month, in London, I gave a presentation 'Towards an authentic implementation of Sacrosanctum Concilium' ... This talk received a lot of attention — some of it not always very accurate!"

During his address in July at the Sacra Liturgia conference, Cardinal Sarah asked priests to implement the practice of celebrating Mass facing east "wherever possible" prompting both the Vatican and the Archbishop of Westminster to issue statements, distancing themselves from Cardinal Sarah's comments.