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POPE Benedict, in a decree issued yesterday, authorised wider use of the old Latin Mass and told the world's 1.1 billion Catholics that his nod to traditionalists was nothing to be afraid of.In a letter to bishops, the German-born Pontiff rejected criticism within the Church that his long-awaited move could split Catholics and roll back the clock on reforms introduced in the 1960s, and which are opposed by many traditionalists.The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) replaced Latin with local languages in the liturgy, reached out to other religions and struck texts-which may now stage a comeback-that Jews found particularly offensive.“This fear is unfounded,” the Pope said in the letter.“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful.”Catholics around the world will have the Pope's blessing to request their local priest to celebrate Mass in Latin - and even get baptised or married according to the old Latin rite.If the priest refuses, they can appeal to their bishop who, the Pope said, “is strongly requested to satisfy their wishes”. If still unsuccessful, they can go all the way to the Vatican.
Previously, local bishops had the power to authorise or deny use of the Latin mass.The Pope said his intention was to reconcile with traditionalists, some of whom were so angered by the reforms of the Second Vatican Council that they broke from the Church, causing the first schism of modern times.The traditionalists' major flag-bearer is the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), founded by the late French archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and which claims about one million members.“It is a matter of coming to an interior reconciliation in the heart of the Church,” the Pope said. “Looking back over the past, to the divisions ... not enough was done by the Church's leaders to maintain or regain reconciliation or unity.”
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