In a strong call for unity within the Church, Pope Leo XIV has urged Catholics to overcome divisions surrounding the liturgy, emphasizing that all faithful, including those devoted to the Traditional Latin Mass often called the ‘Vetus Ordo,’ must feel welcomed within the Church.
The Pope made this appeal in a message sent through Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, to the French bishops at their spring plenary assembly in Lourdes (March 24–26), highlighting the need for reconciliation and mutual understanding. He acknowledged that tensions surrounding liturgical practices, especially after recent restrictions on the older form of the Roman Rite, have caused pain among some faithful. Yet, he stressed that the Church must remain a place of communion, not division.
While reaffirming the importance of the liturgical reforms following the Second Vatican Council, the Holy Father also called for pastoral sensitivity toward those attached to traditional worship. He encouraged bishops to accompany these faithful with charity, ensuring they are not marginalized but integrated into the life of the Church.
Pope Leo XIV reminded believers that the Eucharist is the source of unity, not conflict. Differences in liturgical expression, he said, should never overshadow the truth that all are one in Christ. He urged Catholics to move beyond polemics and rediscover the beauty of worship as a shared encounter with God.
In a world often marked by division, the Pope’s message stands as a call to unity rooted in love, reminding the faithful that the Church is strongest when it reflects the communion of Christ Himself.