A retired cardinal of the Roman Curia has reassured a group of traditional Catholics that Pope Francis has no intention of restricting the Extraordinary Form of the Latin liturgy.
Also known as the “Tridentine Mass,” the Mass was celebrated before Pope Paul VI issued his Novus Ordo and fully restored to the life of the Church by Benedict XVI in 2007.
The new president of the International Una Voce Federation, James Bogle, told ZENIT Nov. 11 that Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos reassured the group that he had spoken with the Holy Father and said the Pontiff had no animosity to the old rite.
“He spoke to us on Sunday in the open forum and told us he had discussed the subject with the Holy Father and he wasn’t hostile at all,” Mr. Bogle said. “He was very much of the same view that we were taking, which is that it is part of the fabric and culture of the Church. I don’t think there’s any evidence to suggest otherwise, and I’d have been surprised if there were.”
Some traditional Catholics have been concerned that the Pope is opposed to the Old Mass, and Catholic tradition in general. But Mr. Bogle added that Pope Francis is “very much in admiration of the work of Benedict XVI, so we needn’t be surprised by this.”
The General Assembly of the International Una Voce Federation (FIUV) has just wrapped up in Rome. As well as Cardinal Castrillon, Cardinal Walter Brandmueller and Archbishop Guido Pozzo, Secretary of the Pontifical Commission, ‘Ecclesia Dei’, also participated in the conference.
As the new head of Una Voce, Mr. Bogle, who is also vice chairman of the Catholic Union of Great Britain, said he plans to “consolidate and develop” the gains made since Summorum Pontificum, Benedict XVI’s 2007 motu proprio that restored the Traditional Latin Mass as one of the two approved forms of the Mass.
Mr. Bogle said he hopes to integrate those gains “into the kaleidoscope of New Evangelization communities, the modern Church.”
“We believe that is something that will be good for the whole of the Church,” he said, adding: “We think maintaining a connection with our historic roots is very important.” He also noted that young people are especially aware of this.
Mr. Bogle said he has a number of practical ideas for the Federation. “I’m anxious to have useful dialogue with the Eastern Church – Orthodox and Catholics,” he said. “We have things we can learn from them and they from us. We have a number of other ideas, but it’s too early to go into detail.”
He said the Federation is growing and recently was joined by three new member organisations: Latvia, Cuba, and Brazil. Cuba is particularly strong, Mr. Bogle said, because many years under communism has made it difficult to practice the faith.
