San Francisco, Calif., Aug 6, 2021 / 02:45 am (CNA).
The Catholic Archbishop of San Francisco said on Thursday that he is “grieved” by “disrespectful responses” to Pope Francis’ restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass.
In an Aug. 5 statement, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone underlined that the pope introduced the new measures in the motu proprioTraditionis custodes out of a concern for unity.
“Since Pope Francis issued Traditionis custodes, I have been grieved by certain disrespectful responses; some have even included slanderous attacks on the Pontiff,” the archbishop said.
“I support Pope Francis, and his concern that those who are drawn to more traditional forms of Catholic worship also affirm the validity of the Novus Ordo form of the Mass and, indeed, of the Second Vatican Council itself.”
“As the visible head of the Church, the Pope has a global vision of Church life and can perceive things that we cannot from our more local perspective.”
Traditionis custodes, which entered into force on July 16, the day it was released, underlined that it is a bishop’s “exclusive competence” to authorize Traditional Latin Masses in his diocese.
The document made sweeping changes to Benedict XVI’s 2007 apostolic letterSummorum Pontificum, which had acknowledged the right of all priests to say Mass using the Roman Missal of 1962 without having to seek their bishop’s permission.
Mass according to the 1962 Roman Missal is referred to variously as the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite, the Tridentine Mass, and the Traditional Latin Mass.
The Mass most commonly celebrated in Catholic churches worldwide, rooted in the Roman Missal promulgated in 1970 by Pope Paul VI, is also known by several different names, including the ordinary form of the Roman Rite, the Mass of Paul VI, and the Novus Ordo.
In a letter to the world’s bishops accompanying Traditionis custodes, Pope Francis said that he was “saddened by abuses in the celebration of the liturgy on all sides.”
“In common with Benedict XVI, I deplore the fact that ‘in many places the prescriptions of the new Missal are not observed in celebration, but indeed come to be interpreted as an authorization for or even a requirement of creativity, which leads to almost unbearable distortions,’” the pope wrote.
Cordileone, who was appointed archbishop of San Francisco by Benedict XVI in 2012, said: “I also support the other concern Pope Francis articulates in his accompanying letter to the bishops, but has been overlooked by many in these recent discussions: his denouncing widespread liturgical abuses.”
“Such abuses have been condemned by various levels of Church leadership for decades now; yet, they continue. In addition to satisfying the legitimate desires of some Catholics, then, the Traditional Latin Mass can also serve as a reference point to enhance the celebration of the Novus Ordo Mass.”
In his statement, the 65-year-old archbishop also explained the background to his decision to permit a monthly celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass at the cathedral in San Francisco.
He stressed that he had approved the request before the publication of Traditionis custodes.
“In response to a request from a group of the faithful in the Archdiocese of San Francisco in June, I agreed to allow a monthly first Wednesday celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass in the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption,” he said.
“The request having been received and granted before the issuance of Pope Francis’ motu proprio, Traditionis custodes, the first of the monthly Masses was celebrated on July 7, the 14th anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum.”
Cordileone told CNA on July 16, the day Traditionis custodes was released, that Traditional Latin Masses would continue to be available in the archdiocese, which covers Marin, San Mateo, and San Francisco counties in California. He said it would be offered “in response to the legitimate needs and desires of the faithful.”
Concluding his latest statement, Cordileone said: “Pope Francis is concerned with preserving unity. While celebrations of the Traditional Mass will continue, the focus on unity must always be before our eyes in every celebration of the Mass, in whichever form or rite.”
“In addition, greater attention and effort must be placed on restoring dignity, reverence and a sense of the sacred in the celebration of Masses according to the current edition of the Roman Missal.”
“Especially now it is incumbent upon all Catholics to show respect to the Holy Father, and as well as patience and understanding toward each other regardless of the form in which one chooses to worship.”
“As I said when the motu proprio was published July 16: ‘The Mass is a miracle in any form: Christ comes to us in the flesh under the appearance of Bread and Wine. Unity under Christ is what matters.’”
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Lorie Smith, owner and founder of 303 Creative. / Alliance Defending Freedom
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Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter’s Square, Oct. 5, 2016. / Daniel Ibanez/CNA.
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Mar 13, 2023 / 13:15 pm (CNA).
Today marks the 10th anniversary of the election of Pope Francis as the 265th successor of St. Peter. Here is a timeline of key events during his papacy:
2013
March 13 — About two weeks after Pope Benedict XVI steps down from the papacy, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio is elected pope. He takes the papal name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi and proclaims from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica: “Let us begin this journey, the bishop and people, this journey of the Church of Rome, which presides in charity over all the Churches, a journey of brotherhood in love, of mutual trust. Let us always pray for one another.”
March 14 — The day after he begins his pontificate, Pope Francis returns to his hotel to personally pay his hotel bill and collect his luggage.
July 8 — Pope Francis visits Italy’s island of Lampedusa and meets with a group of 50 migrants, most of whom are young men from Somalia and Eritrea. The island, which is about 200 miles off the coast of Tunisia, is a common entry point for migrants who flee parts of Africa and the Middle East to enter Europe. This is the pope’s first pastoral visit outside of Rome and sets the stage for making reaching out to the peripheries a significant focus.
July 23–28 — Pope Francis visits Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to participate in World Youth Day 2013. More than 3 million people from around the world attend the event.
July 29 — On the return flight from Brazil, Pope Francis gives his first papal news conference and sparks controversy by saying “if a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge?” The phrase is prompted by a reporter asking the pope a question about priests who have homosexual attraction.
Nov. 24 — Pope Francis publishes his first apostolic exhortation Evangelii gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel). The document illustrates the pope’s vision for how to approach evangelization in the modern world.
2014
Feb. 22 — Pope Francis holds his first papal consistory to appoint 19 new cardinals, including ones from countries in the developing world that have never previously been represented in the College of Cardinals, such as Haiti.
March 22 — Pope Francis creates the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. The commission works to protect the dignity of minors and vulnerable adults, such as the victims of sexual abuse.
Oct. 5 — The Synod on the Family begins. The bishops discuss a variety of concerns, including single-parent homes, cohabitation, homosexual adoption of children, and interreligious marriages.
Dec. 6 — After facing some pushback for his efforts to reform the Roman Curia, Pope Francis discusses his opinion in an interview with La Nacion, an Argentine news outlet: “Resistance is now evident. And that is a good sign for me, getting the resistance out into the open, no stealthy mumbling when there is disagreement. It’s healthy to get things out into the open, it’s very healthy.”
2015
Jan. 18 — To conclude a trip to Asia, Pope Francis celebrates Mass in Manila, Philippines. Approximately 6 million to 7 million people attend the record-setting Mass, despite heavy rain.
March 23 — Pope Francis visits Naples, Italy, to show the Church’s commitment to helping the fight against corruption and organized crime in the city.
May 24 — To emphasize the Church’s mission to combat global warming and care for the environment, Pope Francis publishes the encyclical Laudato si’, which urges people to take care of the environment and encourages political action to address climate problems.
Sept. 19–22 — Pope Francis visits Cuba and meets with Fidel Castro in the first papal visit to the country since Pope John Paul II in 1998. During his homily, Francis discusses the dignity of the human person: “Being a Christian entails promoting the dignity of our brothers and sisters, fighting for it, living for it.”
Sept. 22–27 — After departing from Cuba, Pope Francis makes his first papal visit to the United States. In Washington, D.C., he speaks to a joint session of Congress, in which he urges lawmakers to work toward promoting the common good, and canonizes the Franciscan missionary St. Junípero Serra. He also attends the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, which focuses on celebrating the gift of the family.
Oct. 4 — Pope Francis begins the second Synod on the Family to address issues within the modern family, such as single-parent homes, cohabitation, poverty, and abuse.
Oct. 18 — The pope canonizes St. Louis Martin and St. Marie-Azélie “Zelie” Guérin. The married couple were parents to five nuns, including St. Therese of Lisieux. They are the first married couple to be canonized together.
Dec. 8 — Pope Francis’ Jubilee Year of Mercy begins. The year focuses on God’s mercy and forgiveness and people’s redemption from sin. The pope delegates certain priests in each diocese to be Missionaries of Mercy who have the authority to forgive sins that are usually reserved for the Holy See.
2016
March 19 — Pope Francis publishes the apostolic exhortation Amoris laetitia, which discusses a wide variety of issues facing the modern family based on discussions from the two synods on the family. The pope garners significant controversy from within the Church for comments he makes in Chapter 8 about Communion for the divorced and remarried.
April 16 — After visiting refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos, Pope Francis allows three Muslim refugee families to join him on his flight back to Rome. He says the move was not a political statement.
July 26–31 — Pope Francis visits Krakow, Poland, as part of the World Youth Day festivities. About 3 million young Catholic pilgrims from around the world attend.
Sept. 4 — The pope canonizes St. Teresa of Calcutta, who is also known as Mother Teresa. The saint, a nun from Albania, dedicated her life to missionary and charity work, primarily in India.
Sept. 30–Oct. 2 — Pope Francis visits Georgia and Azerbaijan on his 16th trip outside of Rome since the start of his papacy. His trip focuses on Catholic relations with Orthodox Christians and Muslims.
Oct. 4 — Pope Francis makes a surprise visit to Amatrice, Italy, to pray for the victims of an earthquake in central Italy that killed nearly 300 people.
2017
May 12–13 — In another papal trip, Francis travels to Fatima, Portugal, to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. May 13 marks the 100th anniversary of the first Marian apparition to three children in the city.
July 11 — Pope Francis adds another category of Christian life suitable for the consideration of sainthood: “offering of life.” The category is distinct from martyrdom, which only applies to someone who is killed for his or her faith. The new category applies to those who died prematurely through an offering of their life to God and neighbor.
Nov. 19 — On the first-ever World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis eats lunch with 4,000 poor and people in need in Rome.
Nov. 27–Dec. 2 — In another trip to Asia, Pope Francis travels to Myanmar and Bangladesh. He visits landmarks and meets with government officials, Catholic clergy, and Buddhist monks. He also preaches the Gospel and promotes peace in the region.
2018
Jan. 15–21 — The pope takes another trip to Latin America, this time visiting Chile and Peru. The pontiff meets with government officials and members of the clergy while urging the faithful to remain close to the clergy and reject secularism. The Chilean visit leads to controversy over Chilean clergy sex abuse scandals.
Aug. 2 — The Vatican formally revises No. 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which concerns the death penalty. The previous text suggested the death penalty could be permissible in certain circumstances, but the revision states that the death penalty is “inadmissible.”
Aug. 25 — Archbishop Carlo Viganò, former papal nuncio to the United States, publishes an 11-page letter calling for the resignation of Pope Francis and accusing him and other Vatican officials of covering up sexual abuse including allegations against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. The pope initially does not directly respond to the letter, but nine months after its publication he denies having prior knowledge about McCarrick’s conduct.
Aug. 25–26 — Pope Francis visits Dublin, Ireland, to attend the World Meeting of Families. The theme is “the Gospel of family, joy for the world.”
Oct. 3–28 — The Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment takes place. The synod focuses on best practices to teach the faith to young people and to help them discern God’s will.
2019
Jan. 22–27 — The third World Youth Day during Pope Francis’ pontificate takes place during these six days in Panama City, Panama. Young Catholics from around the world gather for the event, with approximately 3 million people in attendance.
Feb. 4 — Pope Francis signs a joint document in with Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, titled the “Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together.” The document focuses on people of different faiths uniting together to live peacefully and advance a culture of mutual respect.
Feb. 21–24 — The Meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church, which is labeled the Vatican Sexual Abuse Summit, takes place. The meeting focuses on sexual abuse scandals in the Church and emphasizes responsibility, accountability, and transparency.
Oct. 6–27 — The Church holds the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon region, which is also known as the Amazon Synod. The synod is meant to present ways in which the Church can better evangelize the Amazon region but leads to controversy when carved images of a pregnant Amazonian woman, referred to by the pope as Pachamama, are used in several events and displayed in a basilica near the Vatican.
Oct. 13 — St. John Henry Newman, an Anglican convert to Catholicism and a cardinal, is canonized by Pope Francis. Newman’s writings inspired Catholic student associations at nonreligious colleges and universities in the United States and other countries.
2020
March 15 — Pope Francis takes a walking pilgrimage in Rome to the chapel of the crucifix and prays for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. The crucifix was carried through Rome during the plague of 1522.
March 27 — Pope Francis gives an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing in an empty and rain-covered St. Peter’s Square, praying for the world during the coronavirus pandemic.
2021
March 5–8 — In his first papal trip since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis becomes the first pope to visit Iraq. On his trip, he signs a joint statement with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani condemning extremism and promoting peace.
July 3 — Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, who was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis, is indicted in a Vatican court for embezzlement, money laundering, and other crimes. The pope gives approval for the indictment.
July 4 — Pope Francis undergoes colon surgery for diverticulitis, a common condition in older people. The Vatican releases a statement that assures the pope “reacted well” to the surgery. Francis is released from the hospital after 10 days.
July 16 — Pope Francis issues a motu proprio titled Traditionis custodes. The document imposes heavy restrictions on the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass.
Dec. 2–6 — The pope travels to Cyprus and Greece. The trip includes another visit to the Greek island of Lesbos to meet with migrants.
2022
Jan. 11 — Pope Francis makes a surprise visit to a record store in Rome called StereoSound. The pope, who has an affinity for classical music, blesses the newly renovated store.
March 19 — The pope promulgates Praedicate evangelium, which reforms the Roman Curia. The reforms emphasize evangelization and establish more opportunities for the laity to be in leadership positions.
May 5 — Pope Francis is seen in a wheelchair for the first time in public and begins to use one more frequently. The pope has been suffering from knee problems for months.
July 24–30 — In his first papal visit to Canada, Pope Francis apologizes for the harsh treatment of the indigenous Canadians, saying many Christians and members of the Catholic Church were complicit.
2023
Jan. 31–Feb. 5 — Pope Francis travels to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. During his visit, the pope condemns political violence in the countries and promotes peace. He also participates in an ecumenical prayer service with Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Moderator of the Church of Scotland Iain Greenshields.
Hong Kong media tycoon and Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai. / Napa Institute.
CNA Staff, Nov 8, 2023 / 18:07 pm (CNA).
Multiple Catholic leaders from around the world this week called upon the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Re… […]
8 Comments
“Since Pope Francis issued Traditionis custodes, I have been grieved by certain disrespectful responses; some have even included slanderous attacks on the Pontiff,” the archbishop said.
Merriam Webster defines “slanderous” –
causing or intended to cause unjust injury to a person’s good name
I agree. Slanderous behavior has indeed occurred. Vows have been violated. Standards of kindness, courtesy, sense and justice have been trampled. The deposit of faith has been warped, tampered with, and changed. The faithful have been cheated. The word for actions like these is ‘slander,’ or ‘scandal,’ or ‘travesty.’ ‘Sinful’
If the Pope’s name or reputation has been sullied, he has but one place to look. May God have mercy and look upon him with kindness and justice.
“Pope Francis is concerned with preserving unity”….
Why didn’t the archbishop express his concern about the way F1 attacked the people he wants to accompany & dialogue with?
Oh,thats right, they don’t have rainbow sashes & pachamama idols..
I need to pray more 🙏🙏🙏🙏 for pope Francis and for myself too. I am too quick to condemn him I think because there has been very little explanation or teaching from the pastors in our parishes from the beginning of his pontificate and the confusion that has followed it.
Circling the wagons around this pope is ecclesial suicide. If the archbishop thinks covering for this pope is the noble and courageous thing to do, we are in more trouble than I had imagined.
As sad as the vitriol is that has been unleashed, Pope Francis only has himself to blame. A Pope needs to be a Spiritual father to his flock not a bully or dictator.
I believe that Pope Francis has been increasingly disrespectful of his flock globally. I started keeping a list of his actions since 2018. I have learned so much because I first research and validate sources and read his words.
I find it odd that he has to speak in confusing circular words such that others have to rush to his defense to “clarify”. Well his attack on the TLM is the final tipping point to draw the ire of the faithful. As a result we have decided to start attending TLM in our area. It is my way of pushing back on him and supporting those being persecuted by Francis.
Now back to the list: He protected and even reinstated McCarrick, He protected an abusive Bishop in Argentina until the outrage was overwhelming, He allows space aliens into the nativity outside the vatican, He “hangs out with” the ultra rich pushing globalism and who are all pushing the culture of death, He thought it necessary to remove the word “one” before the word God in the Collect, He wanted to tinker with the Our Father prayer, He threw Cardinal Xi under the bus in China, He had McCarrick make the deal with the CCP and allows them to select the Bishops, He has appointed far liberal Bishops and Cardinals like Cupich and Winton Gregory, He is best friends with James Martin SJ, He did not step forward to protect Cardinal Pell in Australia, He fired the administrators of JPII’s institute on life and theology of the body so that he could insert “his” people, and now he has thrown both JPII and Pope Benedict XVI under the bus again with his gobble de gook statements of confusion, etc. etc. etc.
“Since Pope Francis issued Traditionis custodes, I have been grieved by certain disrespectful responses; some have even included slanderous attacks on the Pontiff,” the archbishop said.
Merriam Webster defines “slanderous” –
causing or intended to cause unjust injury to a person’s good name
I agree. Slanderous behavior has indeed occurred. Vows have been violated. Standards of kindness, courtesy, sense and justice have been trampled. The deposit of faith has been warped, tampered with, and changed. The faithful have been cheated. The word for actions like these is ‘slander,’ or ‘scandal,’ or ‘travesty.’ ‘Sinful’
If the Pope’s name or reputation has been sullied, he has but one place to look. May God have mercy and look upon him with kindness and justice.
Ever the gentleman is Cordileone. Like Paprocki. And Cdl. Sarah.
“Pope Francis is concerned with preserving unity”….
Why didn’t the archbishop express his concern about the way F1 attacked the people he wants to accompany & dialogue with?
Oh,thats right, they don’t have rainbow sashes & pachamama idols..
Silly people who are trying to keep their faith…
And when will Cordileone, after the last couple of years of consultation with Pelosi, act in deed and not just the never-ending words?
I am grieved by the sacrilege of the Eucharist.
I need to pray more 🙏🙏🙏🙏 for pope Francis and for myself too. I am too quick to condemn him I think because there has been very little explanation or teaching from the pastors in our parishes from the beginning of his pontificate and the confusion that has followed it.
Circling the wagons around this pope is ecclesial suicide. If the archbishop thinks covering for this pope is the noble and courageous thing to do, we are in more trouble than I had imagined.
As sad as the vitriol is that has been unleashed, Pope Francis only has himself to blame. A Pope needs to be a Spiritual father to his flock not a bully or dictator.
I believe that Pope Francis has been increasingly disrespectful of his flock globally. I started keeping a list of his actions since 2018. I have learned so much because I first research and validate sources and read his words.
I find it odd that he has to speak in confusing circular words such that others have to rush to his defense to “clarify”. Well his attack on the TLM is the final tipping point to draw the ire of the faithful. As a result we have decided to start attending TLM in our area. It is my way of pushing back on him and supporting those being persecuted by Francis.
Now back to the list: He protected and even reinstated McCarrick, He protected an abusive Bishop in Argentina until the outrage was overwhelming, He allows space aliens into the nativity outside the vatican, He “hangs out with” the ultra rich pushing globalism and who are all pushing the culture of death, He thought it necessary to remove the word “one” before the word God in the Collect, He wanted to tinker with the Our Father prayer, He threw Cardinal Xi under the bus in China, He had McCarrick make the deal with the CCP and allows them to select the Bishops, He has appointed far liberal Bishops and Cardinals like Cupich and Winton Gregory, He is best friends with James Martin SJ, He did not step forward to protect Cardinal Pell in Australia, He fired the administrators of JPII’s institute on life and theology of the body so that he could insert “his” people, and now he has thrown both JPII and Pope Benedict XVI under the bus again with his gobble de gook statements of confusion, etc. etc. etc.