Pope Francis restricts the celebration of the so-called Old Mass.

According to a decree published in the Vatican on Friday, the ordinary, issued by Paul VI.

and John Paul II allowed Mass rite the "only expression" of the Roman rite.

The Benedict XVI.

Extraordinary rite, which was permitted on a larger scale in 2007, may only be celebrated under strict conditions.

According to the new Motu Proprio "Traditionis custodes" (Guardian of Tradition), only the local bishop is allowed to use the Pope John XXIII

Missing book published in 1962.

Accordingly, he alone determines churches and days of the week for the celebration according to the old rite;

He also instructs the priests to celebrate the Eucharist with the faithful.

According to the new regulation, the readings in the mass celebration, which is usually celebrated in Latin, must be given in the respective national language.

The celebration according to the old rite is not permitted in normal parish churches, and no separate staff congregations may be formed for this purpose.

In an accompanying letter to the bishops, Francis justified his decision with the fact that in particular those of Benedict XVI. 2007 hoped for reconciliation and greater unity in the church did not occur. A 2020 survey on the extraordinary rite among bishops shows this. The Benedict XVI. Offered relief, Francis said, "has been used to widen gaps, intensify divergences and encourage discrepancies that hurt the Church" and put them at risk of division.

The use of the old rite, for example, is often accompanied by claims that only this corresponds to the true Catholic Church;

the liturgical reform after the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), on the other hand, betrayed the Catholic tradition.

Such divisions, according to the Pope, contradict not only the council, but also biblical teaching.

According to the new decree, priests who want to celebrate in the extraordinary rite must be approved by the bishop.

They should not only be proficient in Latin, but also be good pastors.

Those who have already celebrated in the rite of 1962 need renewed permission from the bishop.

Future ordained priests require permission from Rome through their bishop.

The new Motu Proprio, signed July 16, comes into effect immediately. It overrides all provisions of previous edicts insofar as they contradict the new one.