Latin Mass Update: Francis Lied

And Pope Leo cuts San Angelo a break.

Monday I stated (again) that Pope Leo XIV must restore Pope Benedict’s policy on the Traditional Latin Mass.

Since then are two developments that are making that appear more likely. With apologies that I need to be brief in summarizing these, here goes.

Most of you are already aware of one, the bombshell leak of the overall assessment, the document that Pope Francis used, more like abused, to restrict the TLM.

EXCLUSIVE: Official Vatican Report Exposes Major Cracks in Foundation of Traditionis Custodes

To sum up, the overall assessment indicated that sharply restricting the TLM would create more problems than it would solve and was not an option supported by most bishops. Further, those who attend Latin Masses are an overall boon to the church, not a divisive detriment. But do read Diane Montagna for more.

That is not what Francis wanted to hear. So he pretended that the document said pretty much the opposite, that TLM people were divisive and that most bishops wanted the TLM restricted, and that the document’s supposed conclusions constrained him to suppress the TLM.

In other words, Francis lied in order to suppress the TLM. You can say it nicely like Kevin Tiernery.

The Beginning of the End of Traditionis Custodes

Or say it not so nicely like Chris Jackson.

The Pastoral Lie: How Pope Francis Buried the Truth About Traditionis Custodes

Either way, Francis told a big lie to make the TLM die.

The bright side of this scandal is that Pope Leo has that much more reason to restore the status of the TLM to the freedom under Benedict. It was restricted under false pretenses. There is therefore all the more justification to restore it.

The second, quieter, bit of news is that Pope Leo granted a San Angelo, Texas parish a two year extension that allows them to continue their Latin Masses.

Now I’ve read a gloomy take on this. A few think Leo giving San Angelo a break indicates this will continue to be the exception, not the rule. That he is unlikely to make Benedict’s freedom to say the TLM the rule again.

But I think a more natural interpretation is that Leo does intend to make TLM freedom the rule again. So he’s giving this parish an extension to bridge the gap until he does.

I don’t know, obviously. But after these two developments I do think it more likely that Pope Leo will reverse Francis’ deceptive and vindictive restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass. Let us pray so.