In the ongoing Catholic dispute over the Traditional Latin Mass, Pope Leo XIV wants to take a different path to his predecessor Francis.
In an interview with the US portal "Crux " published on Thursday, the Pope said that he would soon sit down for the first time with people "who are in favour of the Tridentine rite".
Observers suspect that this could take place in connection with the Holy Year pilgrimage of traditionalists in Rome announced for October.
In terms of content, the Pope remarked that the topic had unfortunately fallen into a "process of polarisation".
Some people had "abused" the old form of the liturgy in order to achieve other goals. This is not helpful for all "those who, through the celebration of the Tridentine Mass, seek a deeper experience of prayer and contact with the mystery of faith".
"We need to talk to each other"
In order to find a solution, perhaps a synodal consultation could help: "We need to sit down together and talk about it," said the Pope.
The issue is currently so polarising that people with different opinions are no longer willing to listen to each other. This shows that it is "now only about ideology and no longer about ecclesial communion".
In 2007, the current Pope's predecessor, Benedict XVI, largely re-authorised the old liturgy, in which priests celebrate Mass with their backs to the people and speak quietly in Latin, after decades of restrictions.
In 2021, Pope Francis then severely restricted the same old liturgy again.
Francis had thus antagonised the traditionalists in the Church. They are now hoping that Pope Leo XIV will once again make a U-turn on this issue.
On 22 August, the Pope received the US Cardinal Raymond Burke in audience; he is considered an influential advocate of the Traditional Latin Mass.