Decree by Francis on Latin Mass caused pain to Pope Benedict says Archbishop Gänswein

WÜRZBURG - With his motu proprio "Traditionis custodes", Pope Francis rescinded his predecessor's relaxations for the celebration of the Old Mass. Benedict read the decree "with pain in his heart", reports his private secretary Georg Gänswein.

There were apparently considerable differences of opinion between the late Benedict XVI and his successor in the papacy on the subject of liturgy. As reported by the German Pope's long-time private secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, he read Pope Francis' decree entitled "Traditionis custodes" in 2021 "with pain in his heart". In this decree, Francis again drastically restricted the possibilities for celebrating the so-called Old Mass decreed by his predecessor in 2007.

Gänswein described this measure as a "painful cut" for the Pope Emeritus. With his 2007 reform, Benedict XVI had wanted to ensure that the adherents of the Old Mass, who had found their home in this form of liturgy, "found their inner peace", said the Archbishop. In doing so, he had also wanted to "draw them away from Lefebvre". The late French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre was the founder of the Priestly Fraternity of Pius X, which does not recognise essential teachings of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)

Old Mass is "food for many saints"

Gänswein said the Old Mass had been the "source of spiritual life" for many people over the centuries, "food for many saints". He could not imagine "that it is something that is no longer any good". It should not be forgotten that this also applies to many young people "who no longer really understand the whole fuss about the Council". He, Gänswein, was "not entirely comfortable with taking this treasure away from people".

Gänswein made his comments in an interview with the Catholic weekly newspaper "Die Tagespost". The half-hour interview was published on Monday as a video on the website of the sponsoring foundation of the "Tagespost" at the address www.benedictusxvi.org. The time of recording is unclear. The time of recording is unclear. Details about the last hours and days of the former head of the church, who died on New Year's Eve, are not included.

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