“The pope’s openness to hearing from Catholics attached to the Traditional Mass” could pave the way for reconciliation, he concluded.
Newsroom (23/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) In a wide-ranging interview that has reignited discussions on liturgical reform within the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV has offered a balanced perspective on the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM), emphasizing the need for inculturation while decrying its politicization as a source of division. The pontiff’s comments, excerpted from an upcoming biography and shared with Crux Now, have been met with cautious optimism by traditionalist leaders, including Dr. Joseph Shaw, chairman of the Latin Mass Society (LMS) and president of Una Voce International.
The interview, conducted by Crux Senior Correspondent Elise Ann Allen for her forthcoming book León XIV: Ciudadano del Mundo, Misionero del Siglo XXI (“Leo XIV: Citizen of the World, Missionary of the 21st Century”), sheds light on the work of a newly established Vatican study group tasked with addressing liturgical challenges. Published on September 18, 2025, by Crux, the excerpts reveal Pope Leo’s focus on adapting the liturgy to diverse cultural contexts—known as inculturation—while grappling with the “hot-button issue” of the TLM, which has fueled polarization since Pope Francis’ 2021 motu proprio Traditionis Custodes.
Dr. Shaw, speaking exclusively to the Catholic Herald from Oxford, England, expressed encouragement over the pope’s openness to dialogue with TLM advocates. “I welcome his willingness to engage with Catholics attached to the Traditional Mass,” Shaw said, noting that the pontiff’s remarks signal a potential shift toward synodality in resolving liturgical tensions. However, Shaw also highlighted discrepancies in how Vatican media outlets have framed the interview, underscoring the nuanced nature of the pope’s position.
Discrepancies in Reporting and the Context of Politicization
The interview has sparked debate not only for its content but also for varying interpretations by official Church outlets. Vatican News summarized the pope’s comments by leading with a stern warning: “People have used the liturgy as an excuse for advancing other topics. It’s become a political tool, and that’s very unfortunate.” This portrayal emphasized the risks of ideological misuse, aligning with broader Vatican concerns about division.
In contrast, Crux’s fuller account provided additional layers, including the pope’s reflections on the Novus Ordo Missae—the post-Vatican II Mass of Paul VI—and the need for reverent celebration across liturgical forms. Pope Leo XIV clarified that celebrating Mass in Latin is “not inherently problematic,” stating, “You can say Mass in Latin right now. If it’s the Vatican II rite, there’s no problem.” He further suggested that abuses in Novus Ordo celebrations—such as irreverence or overly casual approaches—may have driven some faithful toward the TLM in search of a “deeper experience of prayer” and greater “contact with the mystery of faith.”
Dr. Shaw told the Catholic Herald that this distinction is crucial. “It is clear from the context that when he talks about the instrumentalisation of the liturgy, he is talking about the Novus Ordo,” Shaw explained. He argued that the pope is reaffirming longstanding Church teaching on liturgical dignity while acknowledging widespread dissatisfaction with contemporary Novus Ordo practices. “Greater reverence in the Novus Ordo might reduce calls for the older form,” Shaw added, pointing to the TLM’s appeal as a response to perceived shortcomings in modern celebrations.
This perspective aligns with the pope’s broader critique of polarization. He described the TLM debate as “very complicated,” lamenting how it has been co-opted into broader ideological battles that undermine Church unity. “With synodality, we have to sit down and talk about [it],” the pontiff said, expressing openness to future meetings with TLM proponents but noting challenges posed by groups unwilling to engage in dialogue. Some bishops, he reported, have encountered resistance from TLM advocates who prioritize ideology over “church communion.”
Inculturation at the Core of the Study Group’s Mandate
Central to Pope Leo XIV’s remarks is the Vatican study group’s mandate to advance inculturation, ensuring the liturgy resonates with local cultures without compromising universal Catholic identity. “How to continue the process of making the liturgy more meaningful within a different culture, within a specific culture, in a specific place at any given time,” the pope explained. This effort echoes post-Vatican II reforms and ongoing discussions, such as the proposed Amazonian rite from the 2019 Synod of Bishops for the Amazon, which aims to integrate indigenous elements into the Roman Rite.
While the pope did not directly reference the Amazonian rite, his emphasis on cultural adaptation highlights the study’s relevance in a global Church. In regions with non-Western traditions, inculturation raises complex questions about doctrinal fidelity and inclusivity. The TLM debate intersects here, as traditionalists often view such adaptations as diluting the liturgy’s timeless essence, while reformers see them as essential for evangelization.
Dr. Shaw acknowledged this tension but focused on the pope’s affirmation of Latin’s legitimacy. Yet, he noted practical barriers: Latin Novus Ordo Masses remain “rare” and have faced restrictions in dioceses like Charlotte and Detroit in the United States. “If today you offer Catholics attached to the TLM a Latin Novus Ordo, they will turn you down,” Shaw said, despite the pontiff’s suggestion that the experiential differences between the rites are minimal when both are celebrated reverently.
Key Differences Between Rites: Beyond Language
Shaw elaborated on why the TLM holds enduring appeal, detailing substantive differences that go beyond language. The Tridentine Rite, codified after the Council of Trent, features a silent canon (the Eucharistic Prayer recited quietly by the priest), a balanced structure emphasizing the Liturgy of the Eucharist over the Liturgy of the Word, and a fixed selection of scriptural texts and prayers. Ceremonial elements, such as the priest facing ad orientem (toward the altar, symbolizing orientation toward God), are absent in the Novus Ordo, which typically employs versus populum (facing the people).
Practical distinctions further shape the worship experience, Shaw explained. The Novus Ordo often includes female altar servers, lay lectors, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion—practices rare or prohibited in the TLM. Moreover, the Novus Ordo’s Latin texts, revised post-Vatican II, are often critiqued as “unsingable” compared to the melodic Gregorian chants of the Tridentine tradition.
These elements create a distinct “atmosphere,” according to Shaw. He observed that Latin Novus Ordo Masses tend to attract more educated, elite congregations, while TLM communities are notably diverse, spanning socioeconomic and demographic lines. This diversity, Shaw argued, underscores the TLM’s role in fostering broad Church participation.
Lingering Uncertainty and the Question of Authority
The interview leaves the TLM’s future in a state of “liturgical limbo,” as Dr. Shaw described it. Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, in a separate exclusive with the Catholic Herald, indicated that decisions on the TLM’s governance await the pope’s personal intervention: “I have been told that we will wait for the Holy Father to decide.”
Shaw echoed this, noting that Pope Leo XIV “is the one who will have to decide, and at the moment he is not telling what he is going to do—perhaps he hasn’t decided, perhaps he has. He will announce his decision in his own good time.” This uncertainty stems from Traditionis Custodes, which curtailed bishops’ discretion over TLM permissions, centralizing authority in Rome. The study group’s deliberations could inform future directives, but no timeline has been set.
Broader implications loom large. The pope’s call for dialogue aligns with his synodal vision, but critics like Shaw warn that without concrete steps—such as easing restrictions or promoting hybrid forms—the divide may widen. Proponents of inculturation, meanwhile, hope the study will yield innovative rites that honor tradition while embracing modernity.
A Path Toward Unity?
Pope Leo XIV’s remarks represent a pivotal moment in the Church’s liturgical evolution, balancing reverence for heritage with the demands of a pluralistic world. By critiquing politicization and advocating dialogue, the pontiff signals a desire to transcend “ideological divides” and refocus on the liturgy’s sacred purpose: communion with God and the faithful.
For traditionalists like Dr. Shaw, the interview offers hope amid ongoing restrictions. “The pope’s openness to hearing from Catholics attached to the Traditional Mass” could pave the way for reconciliation, he concluded. As the study group advances its work, the global Catholic community watches closely, eager for resolutions that unite rather than divide.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Catholic Herald, Crux Now and Gaudium Press.
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