Pope Francis and the Tridentine Mass

In traditional Catholic websites and blogs, a lot is being said about Pope Francis' position on the Tridentine Mass. Some say that he promoted the Tridentine Mass while the majority are saying that the former Cardinal Bergoglio restricted (to put it mildly) celebration of this Mass in the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires. 

In this article (in Spanish) written from a third party perspective on 17 September 2007 i.e. just three days after the entry into force of  Summorum Pontificum it is stated that:

The very first thing Bergoglio did after the publishing of Summorum Pontificum of Pope Benedict XVI was to promote the Traditional Latin Mass, the Extraordinary Form, in his Archdiocese, immediately directing that a chapel, to start with, be set up for this end.

However, in blogs such as Rorate Coeli, the opinion is much different. See e.g. How Summorum Pontificum was blocked and trampled on in Buenos Aires: facts, not fantasy and disinformation. The tone is somewhat bitter and unwarranted, in our opinion.

Whatever the case about how things developed in Buenos Aires (bearing also in mind the strong presence of SSPX there), Bergoglio certainly tried to do the right thing from the beginning.

A good strategy, in our opinion, is to continue to use the provisions of Summorum Pontificum. If no provision is made for those who ask, the matter can always be brought to the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (PCED).

Habemus Papam!

Pope Francis in his first public appearance.

"Tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam, et portae inferi non praevalebunt adversus eam" (Matt. 16, 18)

The new Pope of the Roman Catholic Church was elected today. He is Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina and he has taken the name of Pope Francis. He stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica for the first time to address the roaring crowd in St. Peter's Square. 

Bergoglio, aged 76, is a Jesuit from Buenos Aires and is the first pope from South America. Pope Francis humbly and calmly asked for the people's prayers.

"Let's pray always for each other. Let's pray for the whole world. May there be a great brotherhood," the new pope said in Italian. He wished that the "voyage with the church that we begin today" be "successful in spreading the gospel."

"Let us pray silently in this prayer for me," he said before bowing his head for a moment of silent prayer with a silent crowd. Pope Francis received a bishop's blessing and then made the sign of the cross to bless the people.

"Brothers and sisters, I leave you. Thank you so much for the warm welcome. Pray for me and we'll see each other soon. Tomorrow I want to go pray to the Madonna. And I want to wish to all of Rome goodnight and good rest," Pope Francis said with a laugh and a wave before leaving the balcony among cheers and bells ringing.