Leo XIV Faces the Question of the Traditional Mass

While Leo XIV had made peace one of the priorities of his pontificate, the way in which he comes to address what could succinctly be called the "traditionalist issue" could have a lasting impact on his reign.

In 2007, following requests from Bishop Bernard Fellay, then Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X, Pope Benedict XVI, in his motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, significantly expanded the use of the Tridentine Rite in the universal Church.

In 2021, in a complete reversal of his own, Pope Francis simply liquidated the work of his predecessor with the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, drastically restricting access to the Tridentine Mass: a measure that had particularly affected the former Ecclesia Dei communities, arousing incomprehension, even hostility, toward the Pope.

But Leo XIV, the first American pope, seems to have been chosen to try to heal the fractures within the Church. One doesn't need to be an expert in the mysteries of the Vatican to figure out that the question of the Tridentine Mass will prove a test for him. As The Catholic Register suggests, the Holy Father has several options for addressing this delicate issue.

One approach would be to maintain the restrictions imposed by Traditionis Custodes, applying them more flexibly to demonstrate a form of continuity with the previous pontificate while reducing tensions. In this context, the pontiff could delegate more authority to the bishops, while emphasizing the merits of this liturgy. This would represent a conciliatory approach, avoiding a head-on clash with the previous leadership.

Another option would be to issue a new pontifical document amending Traditionis Custodes. This text could reaffirm the right of the faithful to access the Tridentine Mass, while also regulating its exercise. It's a way of saying, in a way, "Summorum Pontificum may have had its flaws, but it is ultimately the most realistic approach given the current context."

According to essayist Stuart Chessman, another approach would be for Rome to gradually cease all polarization in its handling of the question of the Mass of All Time, on the grounds that the "war of annihilation launched against traditionalism can no longer be sustained in the long term," given the state of the Church.

The new Pope could also opt for symbolic gestures. For example, celebrating a traditional Mass himself or participating in such a celebration. Such actions, without directly modifying the legislation, could demonstrate the Pope's commitment to listening to all components of a Church that appears fragmented. 

Would gestures of a different kind, going beyond the restricted framework of the former Ecclesia Dei communities and motu proprio on the liturgy, be possible? Nothing can be ruled out in this area, especially if the ambition of the new Roman Pontiff is to overcome polarization and achieve a liturgical as well as doctrinal peace, since the two are linked.

But even if such gestures were made, it must be remembered that the new pope, born in 1955 and ordained in 1982, has little knowledge of the traditional Mass, and has probably never celebrated it. Will he truly want to support it? One thing is certain on this matter: the coming months – and years – should still generate a lot of ink in the world of Tradition.