NUNTIATORIA

Cardinal Koch Urges Reopening of the Latin Mass Under Pope Leo XIV

Cardinal Kurt Koch has openly stated that it would be “desirable” for Pope Leo XIV to reverse the stringent restrictions placed on the Traditional Latin Mass by Pope Francis, describing Benedict XVI’s more permissive approach as the correct path.

In an interview with kath.net, the Swiss cardinal expressed hope that Pope Leo, though silent so far on liturgical reform, might yet re-open the door to what had been widely accessible under Summorum Pontificum. “Pope Benedict XVI has shown a helpful way by believing that something that has been practiced for centuries cannot simply be banned,” Koch said. “That convinced me.” By contrast, he called Pope Francis’ approach “very restrictive.”

Echoes of Benedict XVI and Ecclesial Unity
Koch, who has led the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity since 2010, is one of the few remaining senior Vatican officials still strongly identified with the liturgical and ecclesiological sensibilities of Benedict XVI. He was directly involved in the consultations that led to the 2007 promulgation of Summorum Pontificum, which granted broader permissions for the celebration of the usus antiquior. That decree, which treated the pre-1970 Roman Rite as “never abrogated,” was gutted by Francis’ 2021 Traditionis Custodes and a string of increasingly prohibitive clarifications from Cardinal Arthur Roche, head of the Dicastery for Divine Worship.

The result has been a state of continued suppression, especially in dioceses across the United States and Europe. In some jurisdictions, permissions have been revoked even for long-established communities. Yet, as Koch’s comments make clear, even prelates not personally attached to the traditional rite are now willing to speak out—an indicator of the growing unease with the legacy of Francis’ liturgical restrictions.

The Quiet of Leo and the Murmuring of Hope
To date, Pope Leo XIV has issued no public directive or document on the Traditional Latin Mass. However, remarks made during his early days in office praising the symbolic depth of Eastern liturgies were taken by some, including Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, as a sign of his respect for liturgical tradition. Kwasniewski observed that Leo “shows that he is sensitive to the language of symbolism and beauty, and especially to the normative value of tradition.” Yet Leo’s quiet, non-confrontational style has kept many guessing as to whether change will come.

Some hope is found in the fact that Cardinal Raymond Burke has already spoken directly to Leo about the future of the Latin Mass, urging a return to the liberties granted under Benedict. Burke famously called Traditionis Custodes a “severe and revolutionary action,” and continues to serve as a vocal defender of traditional liturgy in the face of institutional hostility.

Koch’s Controversial Vision and Its Critics
Cardinal Koch has previously perplexed traditionalists by suggesting that a “reconciliation of the two forms” might lead to a future synthesis of the Novus Ordo and the Tridentine Mass. This suggestion was sharply critiqued by Dr. Joseph Shaw, chairman of the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales, who reminded Koch that the Roman Rite is not the only liturgical form in the Catholic Church. “There are far more than two liturgical forms,” Shaw noted, warning that “imposing liturgical uniformity on the Church would be an ecumenical disaster.”

While Koch’s own solution may be seen as impractical, his criticism of Francis’ restrictions nonetheless adds to mounting pressure on Pope Leo to act. His comments reflect not only theological reasoning but also a pastoral realism about the limits of top-down reform in matters of worship.

The Path Forward?
The expectation now is that Pope Leo XIV will address the liturgy more directly in the autumn, perhaps in tandem with curial appointments or a wider doctrinal statement. In the meantime, the status quo remains uncertain—liberal bishops continue to suppress, while traditional Mass communities seek refuge in canonically ambiguous arrangements.

Yet Koch’s intervention is significant. It signals a widening consensus that the Francis-era liturgical war was not only imprudent but ultimately untenable. With pressure mounting from voices both inside and outside the traditionalist world, the future of the Latin Mass may again become a defining issue for the pontificate of Leo XIV.

¹ Interview with Cardinal Kurt Koch via kath.net, August 2025.
² Summorum Pontificum, Pope Benedict XVI, 7 July 2007.
³ Traditionis Custodes, Pope Francis, 16 July 2021.
⁴ Cardinal Raymond Burke, public response to Traditionis Custodes, July 2021.
⁵ Interview with Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, LifeSiteNews, March 2025.
⁶ Dr. Joseph Shaw, commentary on Cardinal Koch’s synthesis proposal, Latin Mass Society, July 2020.