Pope Leo XIV has urged the bishops of France to seek “generous” pastoral solutions for Catholics attached to the Traditional Latin Mass, in a message sent ahead of their plenary assembly taking place from March 24 to 27.
Writing through the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope signalled a notably conciliatory tone on the question of the Traditional Latin Mass.
In the message, dated March 18, the Pope said he was “particularly attentive” to the issue of the liturgy, acknowledging that “a painful wound concerning the celebration of Mass, the very sacrament of unity, continues to open in the Church”. He called for “a new way of looking at one another, with a greater understanding of each other’s sensitivities”, adding that such an approach could allow Catholics “enriched by their diversity” to “welcome one another in charity and the unity of faith”.
The letter explicitly addressed the growth of communities attached to the older form of the Roman Rite and encouraged the bishops to consider “concrete solutions that will allow for the generous inclusion of those sincerely attached” to it.
While the Pope did not suggest any immediate change to existing norms, his appeal for inclusion and mutual understanding suggests a desire to ease tensions that have persisted in dioceses across France.
The Pope also encouraged the bishops in their efforts to defend the Catholic character of education amid what he described as “growing hostility towards Catholic institutions and challenges to their distinctive character”. Without explicit reference to particular policies, the letter warned that Catholic education “without references to Jesus Christ would lose its very purpose”.
According to the French Catholic daily La Croix, liturgy is among the central topics of the bishops’ assembly and will also feature in discussions at a consistory in Rome scheduled for June. The journal notes that a key issue is whether the restrictions introduced under Traditionis Custodes should remain in place or whether broader permission, akin to that granted by Pope Benedict XVI, might be restored.
An internal source cited by La Croix said: “It has been a long time since this topic, which is not without causing tensions, has been addressed at the assembly. The bishops, whose sensibilities on the subject vary widely, will share how things are going in their dioceses and what questions are arising.” The same source added that this exchange would help Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline prepare a “well-informed contribution” for the forthcoming consistory.
As the French bishops meet this week, their discussions are likely to provide an early indication of how that appeal will be received, and whether a more accommodating approach to the Traditional Latin Mass can be reconciled with the existing framework established by Rome.
This language marks a shift in emphasis from the juridical restrictions associated with Pope Francis, whose 2021 motu proprio Traditionis Custodes significantly curtailed the celebration of the Tridentine Mass.
Pope Leo XIV’s message to the bishops of France, urging “generous” provision for those attached to the Traditional Latin Mass, is a cautious recalibration of tone in the face of a liturgical question that refuses to subside.
While recognising that Pope Leo XIV’s intervention does not resolve those questions, it does signal a change in tone. The Pope appears to be encouraging a pastoral approach that seeks coexistence. Whether this will translate into concrete changes at the level of universal law remains to be seen, but the issue is now firmly back on the agenda at both national and Roman level.
Yet it would be a mistake to interpret this as a straightforward reversal. The recent past cautions against premature conclusions. Earlier this year, confusion arose following remarks attributed to an address delivered by Archbishop Buendia at the Apostolic Nunciature to England and Wales, in which reference was made to restrictions on the Latin Mass. The reaction across the Anglosphere was immediate, with some concluding that a decisive change of policy was imminent. That interpretation was subsequently clarified by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, which indicated that such a reading had overstated the intent.
Pope Leo XIV’s intervention suggests that the problem cannot be resolved by legislation alone. The emphasis on “understanding” and “charity” for bishops indicates an awareness that the divisions surrounding the liturgy reflect deeper hierarchical temperaments rather than theological sensibility.
The timing is also significant, as liturgy will be among the principal topics at a consistory in Rome scheduled for June. Conversations with cardinals, including those referenced in previous reporting by the Catholic Herald, indicate that two issues – Praedicate Evangelium on curial reform and the liturgy – are expected to dominate discussion.
Pressure is also mounting from other quarters. The ongoing situation regarding the Society of St Pius X continues to cast a long shadow. The question of episcopal consecrations and the wider status of the Society remains unresolved, and there is, according to internal SSPX sources, no formal communication presently taking place between Rome and the SSPX. It suggests that the Holy See’s immediate priority is not direct engagement with the Society but the consolidation of those within the Church who are attached to the traditional liturgy yet remain in full communion.
The Pope’s call for “generous inclusion” appears as part of a broader approach. Rome recognises that it cannot afford to alienate a constituency that, while diverse, is often marked by strong commitment and growth. The alternative – further polarisation or drift – would risk deepening existing divisions.
