"We’ve waited patiently for Pope Leo XIV to consider relaxing Latin Mass restrictions — the FSSPX has now thrown a hand grenade into this," said Joseph Shaw, President of Una Voce International at a symposium in London on February 12.
He fears that the Priestly Fraternity of St Pius X (FSSPX) and diocesan Catholics of the Roman rite are being “lumped together”.
Talking to OsvNews.com on February 16, Shaw dreamed of “quiet and subtle, but rapid” concession on the Roman rite by Pope Leo XIV.
He blamed the FSSPX’s move to harden attitudes among some bishops and cardinals, who could now view all Catholics of the Roman rite as “tainted with disapproval.”
“We’re not looking for any kind of victory, just to be allowed to remain a tiny part of the Church, contributing in our own way”, he said.
But: “From my weekly dealings with our bishops, however, I haven’t sadly detected any softening in official positions.”
Since May, there was no indication that Leo XIV would loosen restriction on the Roman rite. On the contrary, his friend Father Alejandro Moral said in June 2025 on the Roman rite: "I think it is excluded that this topic will resurface under Leo XIV."
Picture: © Joseph Shaw, CC BY-NC-SA, #newsCnnicaxgxn