As the Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals continues at the Vatican, some cardinals and members of the faithful devoted to the traditional Roman rite have expressed disappointment that the liturgy was not selected as a primary topic for in-depth discussion.
In his opening address to the consistory, Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed that the gathering of cardinals would reflect together on four major themes previously announced: evangelization in the light of Pope Francis’ 2013 apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium; the reform of the Roman Curia under Praedicate Evangelium; synodality as both a method and a style of ecclesial cooperation; and the liturgy, which the pope described as “the source and summit of the Christian life,” according to Catholic News Agency.
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However, the pope also noted that “due to time constraints, and in order to encourage a genuinely in-depth analysis, only two of them will be discussed specifically,” according to Catholic News Agency. Following a vote, a “large majority” of the cardinals opted to prioritize evangelization and synodality, leaving the liturgy outside the core discussions.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni explained that the 170 cardinals participating were divided into 20 working groups. These were further organized into two larger blocks, including curial cardinals and non-electors in Rome, as well as cardinal electors serving local Churches around the world. For reasons of time, Bruni said, the secretaries of the second block were tasked with reporting the conclusions of their groups, with each given three minutes to speak, according to Catholic News Agency.
The Holy Father emphasized that he particularly wished to hear from cardinals outside the Roman Curia, noting that “it is naturally easier for me to seek counsel from those who work in the Curia and live in Rome,” according to Catholic News Agency.
Despite assurances that all four themes remain important, the decision not to make the liturgy a central topic has caused concern among some cardinals and traditional Catholics. Catholic News Agency reported that the liturgy has been a sensitive issue in recent years, especially following restrictions on the older form of the Latin rite during Pope Francis’ pontificate. Many faithful, the report noted, experienced these changes not simply as disciplinary adjustments but as judgments that felt “deeply wounding and divisive.”
The Italian traditionalist website Messa in Latino stated on Jan. 7 that it had contacted several unnamed but influential cardinals who said they were “discouraged and disappointed” by the decision, according to Catholic News Agency. Speaking to CNA’s sister publication, the National Catholic Register, the site’s editor Luigi Casalini questioned how the decision was made and why cardinals attentive to liturgical concerns appeared not to have pressed for its inclusion as a principal theme.
Casalini also observed that the consistory “appears to be in perfect continuity with the synods and the thought of Francis,” referencing the absence of substantial discussion of the traditional liturgy in recent synodal gatherings, according to Catholic News Agency.
Responding to these concerns, Bruni told journalists that the liturgy had not been excluded entirely. “The other two themes will still be addressed in some way, because mission does not exclude the liturgy,” he said, according to Catholic News Agency. He added that, as Pope Leo XIV emphasized, the themes are inseparable, stating that “in mission and evangelization there is liturgy.”
Looking ahead, Casalini said he would be watching closely to see whether the liturgy emerges during the consistory’s remaining free discussions, according to Catholic News Agency.
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