Answering questions on Latin Mass, Vatican decries ‘sterile polemics’

by Joseph Saraceno
A celebrating priest leads traditional Latin vespers at Rome's ancient Pantheon basilica, in Rome, Italy, Oct. 29, 2021. Pope Francis doubled down Saturday, Dec. 18 on his efforts to quash the old Latin Mass, forbidding the celebration of some sacraments according to the ancient rite in his latest salvo against conservatives and traditionalists. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, file)

A new document issued Saturday (Dec. 18) by the Vatican department overseeing worship clarified restrictions on the Old Latin Mass that Pope Francis issued in July, while lamenting the “sterile polemics” based on ideology that have sowed division in the Catholic Church. MORE