Pope Reverses Benedict, Reimposes Restrictions on Latin Mass

Francis reimposed restrictions on celebrating the Latin Mass that Benedict relaxed in 2007, and went further to limit its use.

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FILE - in this , Thursday, April 1, 2021 file photo, Pope Francis celebrates a Chrism Mass inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican. During the Mass the Pontiff blesses a token amount of oil that will be used to administer the sacraments for the year. Pope Francis cracked down on the spread of the old Latin Mass on Friday, July 16, 2021, reversing one of Pope Benedict XVI's signature decisions in a major challenge to traditionalist Catholics. Francis reimposed the restrictions on celebrating the Latin Mass that Benedict had relaxed in 2007. Francis said he was doing so because Benedict's reform had become a source of division in the church and been instrumentalized by Catholics opposed to the Second Vatican Council, the 1960s meetings that modernized the church. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Image via AP Photo/Andrew Medichini

This article was republished here with permission from The Associated Press, however it is no longer available to read on Snopes.com.

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis cracked down Friday on the spread of the old Latin Mass, reversing one of Pope Benedict XVI’s signature decisions in a major challenge to traditionalist Catholics who immediately decried it as an attack on them and the ancient liturgy. Francis reimposed restrictions on celebrating the Latin Mass that Benedict relaxed in 2007, and went further to limit its use. The pontiff said he was taking action because Benedict’s reform had…

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