Pope Francis issued the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes on July 16, 2021, restricting Masses celebrated in the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite. The pope made sweeping changes to his predecessor Benedict XVI’s 2007 apostolic letter Summorum Pontificum, which acknowledged the right of all priests to say Mass using the Roman Missal of 1962, which is in Latin. Traditionis custodes (“Guardians of the tradition”) is dedicated to “the use of the Roman Liturgy prior to the reform of 1970,” contains eight articles that go into immediate effect.

The Latest

The Confiteor at a Traditional Latin Mass.

Vatican prohibits Traditional Latin Mass in Bishop Strickland’s former cathedral

Nov 11, 2024

By Kristina Millare, Tyler Arnold

The move was announced in a letter to parishioners of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler, which has... Read more

Cardinal Juan Sandoval Íñiguez.

Guadalajara archbishop to Pope Francis on Latin Mass ban: ‘Do not allow this to happen’

Jul 16, 2024

By Daniel Payne

Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iñiguez has implored Pope Francis not to ban the Traditional Latin Mass amid rumors that the Vatican... Read more

The Summorum Pontificum pilgrimage, an annual three-day pilgrimage for devotees of the Traditional Latin Mass, concludes on Oct. 29, 2023, with a pontifical high Mass celebrated by Bishop Guido Pozzo at the Church of the Most Holy Trinity of the Pilgrims in Rome.

Summorum Pontificum pilgrimage draws Traditional Latin Mass devotees to Rome

Nov 1, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

More than 1,000 pilgrims gathered in Rome for an annual three-day pilgrimage for those devoted to the Traditional Latin Mass... Read more

Cardinal Joseph Tobin, archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Synod cardinal speaks on LGBTQ+ Catholics and those who love the Traditional Latin Mass

Oct 10, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

At an Oct. 10 press conference on the Synod on Synodality, Cardinal Joseph Tobin responded to a question about those... Read more

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Annual Requiem Latin Mass canceled at Westminster Cathedral in London after 50 years

Oct 2, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Due to the restrictions outlined in the 2021 motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, the Requiem Mass has been moved to a... Read more

In his address to a Catholic university in Hungary on April 30, 2023, Pope Francis spoke about the false freedoms offered by both communism and consumerism, and encouraged people to seek out Christ’s truth.

Pope Francis says traditional Latin Mass was being used in an ideological way

May 9, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The pope spoke about the Latin Mass in a private conversation with Jesuits on the second day of his April... Read more

A group of Traditional Latin Mass supporters in Italy posted signs as part of a billboard campaign in a neighborhood near the Vatican on March 28, 2023.

‘For love of the pope’: Latin Mass supporters post billboards near Vatican

Mar 28, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

A group of Traditional Latin Mass supporters in Italy has sponsored a billboard campaign in a neighborhood near the Vatican. Read more

A Traditional Latin Mass.

Steubenville bishop bans Latin Mass at Franciscan University, effective immediately

Mar 7, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Bishop Jeffrey Monforton of the Diocese of Steubenville ordered an immediate end to the Latin Mass on Franciscan University’s campus. Read more

Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, speaks with EWTN's Raymond Arroyo on "The World Over with Raymond Arroyo" on March 2, 2023.

Bishop Paprocki, Archbishop Naumann speak out in support of Traditional Latin Mass goers in their dioceses

Mar 3, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

The two U.S. prelates spoke on EWTN’s “The World Over with Raymond Arroyo” March 2. Read more

Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield

Bishop Paprocki: Local Latin Mass goers are ‘faithful Catholics’  

Feb 24, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, told CNA that the Latin Mass community in his diocese has... Read more

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Traditional Latin Mass attendees waiting to see impact of new Vatican restrictions

Feb 21, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

A newly issued clarification says that only the Vatican can grant permission for the Old Mass to be said in... Read more

A Traditional Latin Mass.

Traditionis custodes: Cardinal says only Vatican can dispense from certain obligations

Feb 21, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The head of the Vatican’s liturgy office said Tuesday that dispensations from two of the rules in Traditionis custodes can... Read more

President of the Italian Bishops' Conference Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi (center) attends the consistory for the creation of new cardinals at St. Peter's Basilica on Aug. 27, 2022, in Vatican City.

Analysis: The significance of Cardinal Zuppi celebrating with Summorum Pontificum pilgrims

Oct 31, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The head of the Italian bishops’ conference, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, presided over Vespers on Friday for an annual Traditional Latin... Read more

Pope Francis in April 2022

How Pope Francis is changing the shape of the Roman Curia

Aug 19, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

The new round of promotions and demotions in the Vatican is the consequence of two decisions recently taken by Pope... Read more

A Traditional Latin Mass.

Arlington bishop offers path forward after implementing Traditional Latin Mass restrictions

Aug 17, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

Effective September 8, Burbidge’s directives allow eight parishes to continue offering the Traditional Latin Mass. But only three of those... Read more

A Traditional Latin Mass.

Arlington bishop curtails Traditional Latin Masses

Jul 30, 2022

By Shannon Mullen

Thirteen parishes must stop offering Traditional Latin Masses come Sept. 8. Read more

Cardinal Wilton Gregory, archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, addresses the National Press Club in Washington, DC, on September 8, 2021.

Cardinal Gregory restricts Traditional Latin Masses to three locations in DC archdiocese

The new policy also requires priests to seek permission to say Mass "ad orientem." Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter’s Square on May 4, 2022.

Beauty, truth, and unity: Why Pope Francis is so concerned with the liturgy

Jul 21, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Why is the way liturgy is celebrated so important to Pope Francis? In a word, because he is concerned about... Read more

Canonization Mass on May 15, 2022

Pope Francis pens letter on liturgy after Traditionis custodes

Jun 29, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

The 15-page apostolic letter, Desiderio Desideravi, was published on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. Read more

Pope Francis meets with the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in the Apostolic Palace on May 7, 2022.

Pope Francis: ‘It’s not possible to worship God while making the liturgy a battleground’

May 7, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis said that the liturgy should not be “a battleground” for “outdated issues.” Read more