[Catholic Caucus] Pope Leo says Latin Mass question ‘very complicated’

LifeSite News ^ | September 18, 2025 | Michael Haynes

[ebb tide]

[Catholic Caucus] Pope Leo says Latin Mass question ‘very complicated’

'Obviously, between the Tridentine Mass and the Vatican II Mass, the Mass of Paul VI, I’m not sure where that’s going to go,' he said during his first long-form interview as Pope.

Speaking directly about the traditional Latin Mass, Pope Leo XIV expressed openness to meeting with advocates, adding the topic is “very complicated.”

During the first long-form interview given by the new Pope, Leo XIV conversed with Crux about a wide variety of topics, including the traditional liturgy or Latin Mass, the Sino-Vatican deal, LGBT topics, Synodality, Vatican finances and reforms, and the polarization in the Church. The interview was released in full this week.

The Latin Mass is a “hot-button issue,” Leo said, revealing that he has in these first few months already received “a number of requests and letters” about the topic.

The traditional Mass of the Church came under heavy restrictions in July 2021 thanks to Pope Francis’ Traditionis Custodes, and then following subsequent measures imposed by Cardinal Arthur Roche in his role as the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship. Such restrictions was been widely condemned by a number of prominent prelates and by high-ranking laity such as U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

Clarifying first that priests can say the Novus Ordo in Latin with “no problem,” Leo then turned more specifically to the question of the traditional Mass:

Obviously, between the Tridentine Mass and the Vatican II Mass, the Mass of Paul VI, I’m not sure where that’s going to go. It’s obviously very complicated.

I do know that part of that issue, unfortunately, has become – again, part of a process of polarization – people have used the liturgy as an excuse for advancing other topics. It’s become a political tool, and that’s very unfortunate.

Pope Francis famously declared in July 2021 that “the instrumental use of Missale Romanum of 1962 is often characterized by a rejection not only of the liturgical reform, but of the Vatican Council II itself, claiming, with unfounded and unsustainable assertions, that it betrayed the Tradition and the ‘true Church.’”

READ: Vatican cardinal says he was told to ‘wait for the Holy Father to decide’ future of Latin Mass

Critics of his restrictions have often been at pains to express loyalty to Vatican II while also advocating for freedom for the traditional liturgy, such as Cardinal Raymond Burke.

Demonstrating more of his prior awareness of liturgical sensibilities, Leo lamented liturgical abuses but also equated the two rites, commenting:

I think sometimes the, say, ‘abuse’ of the liturgy from what we call the Vatican II Mass, was not helpful for people who were looking for a deeper experience of prayer, of contact with the mystery of faith that they seemed to find in the celebration of the Tridentine Mass.

Again, we’ve become polarized, so that instead of being able to say, well, if we celebrate the Vatican II liturgy in a proper way, do you really find that much difference between this experience and that experience?

The sit-down interview was conducted in two parts, both in July. As such, Leo noted that he had “not had the chance to really sit down with a group of people who are advocating for the Tridentine rite. There’s an opportunity coming up soon, and I’m sure there will be occasions for that.”

He likened it to the perceived need for more discussions on synodality and how to perceive and implement it in the Church: “that is an issue that I think also, maybe with synodality, we have to sit down and talk about.”

Some weeks after the interviews, Leo met privately with Cardinal Burke, who is recognized as one of the most prominent clerical advocates for the traditional Mass.

Details of their conversation remain private, as is customary, but following that it was announced that Burke would lead the annual Latin Mass pilgrimage to the Vatican in October and there offer Mass. This marks a poignant reversal in policy, since for the last two years the annual Mass had been banned by the Vatican.

Advocates and pilgrims have welcomed the return of the Mass to the annual pilgrimage, having previously lamented the prohibition.

READ: Cardinal Burke will celebrate Latin Mass inside St. Peter’s Basilica for traditional pilgrimage

Appearing aware of the very active debate surrounding the traditional Mass, Leo called it an “issue that’s so polarized that people aren’t willing to listen to one another, oftentimes.”

But he posited criticism at the doors of traditional Mass devotees also, saying “I’ve heard bishops talk to me, they’ve talked to me about that, where they say, ‘we invited them to this and that and they just won’t even hear it’. They don’t even want to talk about it. That’s a problem in itself. It means we’re into ideology now, we’re no longer into the experience of church communion. That’s one of the issues on the agenda.”

Cardinal Burke opined in June that he hoped Leo “will put an end to the persecution of the faithful in the Church who desire to worship God according to more ancient usage of Roman rite, this persecution from within the Church.” At that stage, Burke said he had been able to discuss the issue with Leo.

Many – particular in the U.S. – have been hoping for the Pope to take urgent action on the old rite and rescind or alleviate the restrictions imposed by his predecessor. But Leo’s style so far appears to be averse to such strident actions, and given his July interview commentary, it seems that the future of the traditional Mass will depend much on whose advice he is presented with.

[ebb tide]

Many – particular in the U.S. – have been hoping for the Pope to take urgent action on the old rite and rescind or alleviate the restrictions imposed by his predecessor. But Leo’s style so far appears to be averse to such strident actions, and given his July interview commentary, it seems that the future of the traditional Mass will depend much on whose advice he is presented with.

[ebb tide]

Ping

[Dr. Sivana]

This is a flyer. He is behind a door opening, and just threw his white hat into the hallway to see if anybody shoots at it.

[Az Joe]

Will no one rid us of this meddlesome priest?

[Romulus]

I suspect he lives in a Novus Ordo bubble and doesn’t know anything about the TLM.

[Oystir]

As I have been saying to you(for a long, long, time) and your Cartoon Network, you sure do know how to shoot yourselves in the foot. The insanity of your insane clown posse gets noticed for its anti-Catholicism. Your Pope Leo agrees with me:

Pope Leo: “I do know that part of that issue, unfortunately, has become – again, part of a process of polarization – people have used the liturgy as an excuse for advancing other topics. It’s become a political tool, and that’s very unfortunate.”

Clean it up ebby. Your cause and your Catholicism may depend on it. And yes, this is why Fired Strickland, and others, are fools. You also generate anti-Pope and anti-Catholic responses on FR, in the caucus and your outside posts, and wherever else your posse appears anti-Catholicism occurs.

[Campion]

“Your Pope Leo”? Are you a practicing Catholic or not?

[iamgalt]

Leo says Latin Mass question ‘very complicated’“

No it is not. The Latin mass is beautiful and that’s why Frankee the fraud killed it.

[skinny old man]

So what’s complicated?I grew up on it,was very proud as an Adult to be able to follow The Latin Mass !

[ebb tide]

You have admitted you hate the TLM, oystir.

Go back to your lavender mafia friends and bless each other.

[ebb tide]

In Crux interview, Pope stresses welcome of LGBTQ Catholics, won’t change teaching

The above should brighten yours and Jimmy Martin's day, foister!

[ebb tide]

Thank-you for comparing me to the good Bishop Strickland!

That was quite a compliment.

And I’m sure me comparing you to Jimmy Martin, S.J. is a compliment in your eyes.

[one guy in new jersey]

Catholics are not anti-Catholic.

Project much, O?

[bantam]

It doesn’t seem particularly complicated to me. Pretty simple actually!

[NorthMountain]

I have observed that “progressives” like to over-complicate the simple in order to cover their nefarious plans.

[chopperk]

What’s complicated about TLM???????? The Council of Trent stabilized the Church and Latin Mass. Seems the homo Curiia wants things their way so homos will become accepted. Like John XXIII who was demented so libs could get things their way by electing him as Pope and enact VatII, the dems did the same thing with demented Biden as president. Now homos have a voice in the Curia and are trying to change Christ’s teachings to becoming accepted. Italy closed 150 Churches last year due low Sunday offerings and if Leo is not careful he will have to close thousands due to the big hitters reduction in offerings because they will short change Sunday offerings. They are not buying DEI from Rome.............

[Oystir]

I have never said I was against TLM or for/against any of your issues (in fact you posted pictures in the last week or so of Jubilee pictures in St Peters that I personally found offensive.)

Whether you have been bright enough to realize it or not, my posts have always the abuse of what the Posse believes are church politics - trying to force opinions, use of hyperbolic language, name calling, misrepresentation of facts and people. Church politics are not that important to the faithful. Learn and grow, ebby. Learn and grow.

Your Pope, who knows Fired Strickland and other posse members quite well, fully understands the issues. Your Insane Clown Posse complicates the issues - as YOUR Pope has clearly NOW announced. In case you don’t know, you don’t punch people in the mouth and expect to curry favors. As I said earlier, understand the message you should be clearly receiving. If not from me, NOW directly from your Pope.

Review what you are doing. Discernment is not one of your strong qualities. The gnat on the elephant’s back gets swept away in the breeze. Your posts lead to anti-Catholic and anti-Pope responses. All the time. You relish the responses so you can respond and call names. It’s not right. And yes, Pope Leo notices. He just told you as much.

[ebb tide]

Your Pope, who knows Fired Strickland and other posse members quite well, fully understands the issues.

First of all, you have admitted you don't know why Bishop Strickland was "fired"; yet you have been relentlessly attacking him for years.

Yet Bergoglio kept homos (whom he knew quite well) like Tucho, Jimmy Martin, Cupcake Cupich, Nighty-Nite Tobin and little boy, McElroy as his pals and you've have had nothing but compliments for your dead Jesut hero. Your hero who approved blessing fornicating sodomites, approved Holy Communion to adulterers in a state of mortal sin, who pushed for women deacons, who falsely declared God wills diversity in religions, who declared Hell may be empty, who worshipped his Pachamama idol over the tomb of St. Peter, and who joked with his homo pal, Teddy McCarrick, that the devil didn't have his room ready.

Guess what, foister. McCarrick and Bergoglio may now be roomates, for all you know.

So getting fired by Bergoglio is as much an honor as St. Athanasius getting excommunicated or a catholic poster being bashed by a homosexualist anti-catholic like yourself.

Answer Campion's question: "Are you a practicing Catholic"; because you certainly don't sound like one.

P.S. You keep talking about my pope?

Who's your "pope"? What's your real religion?

Could it be Satan?

[ebb tide]

And yes, Pope Leo notices. He just told you as much.

Actually, what he just told us is: LGBT perverts are now welcome; but he still needs time to decide whether tradtional Catholics and the Mass of All Time are welcome. Also, time is still needed to see if the Church needs to change it's stand on sexual morality.

[Oystir]

Let’s start over ebby. Don’t act like a stuck Kimmel. Discern. Even Jesuit discernment would help - even though you don’t like the term Jesuit. Discern. Unity might be a good term, too.

So let’s start with the recent dubia - either not answered or answered. Discern what was actually said or how it was answered/not answered. Take your time. Pray about it. Don’t rely on or regurgitate what the Posse said. You might find answers. Some of the answers might be along the lines of a gnat on an elephant’s back or don’t worry about Church politics. You find your own answer.

Let’s revisit the article above, which you rushed to publish on FR. You then cherry-picked some language; language which is very unimportant. Language which doesn’t even get to the headline - nothing new there. Discern, ebby, discern. The important language is the direct quote from your Pope, Pope Leo.

This is the single most important thing you have published in ALL your rantings but you fail to see it:

“I do know that part of that issue, unfortunately, has become – again, part of a process of polarization – people have used the liturgy as an excuse for advancing other topics. It’s become a political tool, and that’s very unfortunate.” Direct, unambiguous, and from your Pope.

Let Cardinal Burke do what he seems to be attempting to do. That would be called discernment. The lies, hyperbole, fake articles, political infighting, fake history and false quotes are easy to see through. Your Pope has now said this directly. Discern. Take the clue. Leave the likes of Fired Strickland and the Cartoon Network behind. Drop the hate, self-interest, pride, narcissism, anti-Catholic and anti-pope language behind. It only fuels the anti-Catholics that you duel on non-caucus threads. Let Burke, not Fired Stickland, not the Cartoon Network, not the insane clown posse or others of questionable knowledge/ethics, do his work and follow your Pope.