Pope Francis' "acceleration" on the liturgy

An acceleration. That's the word some of the pope's aides use when they look back on the past year.

Since last summer, Francis, who has not resumed his pre-pandemic pace of travel, has issued a lot more “motu proprios”, made numerous symbolic appointments and signed a number of rescripts.

He also published the long-awaited apostolic constitution on the reformed Roman Curia in March. 

And he’s entered more decisively into an area he’s been relatively reluctant to get involved with up until now – the liturgy.

Last July’s publication of the “motu proprio” Traditionis custodes was only the first of a series of initiatives taken on this subject. 

That text severely restricts the possibility of celebrating Mass according to the pre-Vatican II rite.

Growing concern over traditionalists

"He was not so concerned about this subject at the beginning of his pontificate. It was not his priority," notes one of his aides.  

"In the last year, that has changed, he seems much more concerned," the aide continued.

In recent months, the subject has often come up in his speeches. Speaking to the bishops of Sicily on June 9, for instance, he mocked the lacy vestments worn by some priests.

"Dear friends, there is still the lace and the berettas... but where are we? Sixty years after the Council!"

For several months now Francis has actually expressed his conviction that the liturgy is being used by some as a "way to contest the Council", as a senior Roman Curia official said.

"The purpose of Summorum Pontificum, published by Benedict XVI, was to restore unity. But it was a failure because exactly the opposite happened," the Vatican official explained.

Members of the former “Ecclesia Dei” Commission causing trouble

Evidence of this exploitation of Benedict’s text can be found first of all in the Vatican itself, officials point out.

They believe those responsible for the situation are, at least in part, the members of the now-defunct "Ecclesia Dei" Commission. The commission was responsible for managing the Vatican’s relations with the traditionalist world until July 2021 when France closed it down.

"They promoted the extraordinary form, rather than simply managing the existing one. They totally stepped out of their role and that caused enormous problems," critics in Rome say.

This accusation had already appeared in a letter the pope sent last January to the Dominicans of the Holy Spirit, a French traditionalist institute.

Francis has nevertheless shown himself willing, in recent months, to grant exceptions, on a case-by-case basis. At least he’s done so with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, which he has exempted from the July 2021 “motu proprio”. 

Difficult relations with the traditionalist

"In any case, it is about not making the liturgy into a show, like theater. It is about an encounter with God, and not something to be attended passively," the Vatican source explained.

But Roman Curia officials were also struck by the testimony of bishops who came to Rome to report on very difficult relations with certain traditionalist communities. And Pope Francis has vivid memories of the private meetings he had with some of them.

"Do you realize that some have received threats about the Mass?" one senior prelate said.

"It's madness. And proof that there is a real problem to be solved!" 

Pope Francis issued his apostolic letter on the liturgy, Desiderio desideravi ("I have earnestly desired"), to address this “real problem”.

The text, which came out on June 29, insists in particular on the training priests in the celebration of the Mass.

The document is not specifically aimed at the pre-conciliar liturgy, but it does clearly state that there is a link between attachment to the Old Mass and opposition to the Council.

It is a position that the pope seems determined to maintain.