More on the imminent motu proprio

The following from the Italian news agency ANSA on December 12th (via Rorate Caeli, "An eminent confirmation," 12/12):

"The publication of the Motu Proprio from the Pope which will liberalize the celebration of the Latin Mass according to the Missal of Saint Pius V is close." Who affirmed this was Cardinal Jorge Arturo Medina Estevez, member of the Ecclesia Dei Commission, which met this morning to discuss the liberalization of the Mass in Latin. "We studied the document with tranquility," the Cardinal affirmed. "We discussed [it] together for over 4 hours and to make some corrections to the text of the Motu Proprio." The next step belongs to Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos (president of the commission), who will present the text to Benedict XVI. There shall perhaps be another meeting of the Ecclesia Dei Commission, Medina added. Another member of the [Commission], the Cardinal of Lyon [sic -> Bordeaux], Jean Pierre [sic] Ricard, did not wish to make any comment, underlining that "[he] is bound by the pontifical secret".

(Sources: in French [CathoBel, 12/12/06]--in which it is reported that Medina would have said that another plenary meeting is "probably not needed"; original ANSA dispatch in Italian, Una Voce Venetia, 12/12/06)

Then, yesterday, Rorate Caeli reported ("Some more information on yesterday's meeting," 12/12/06) that in Wednesday's edition of Il Giornale, Andrea Tornielli confirmed the words provided by Cardinal Medina on the content of the plenary meeting of the Ecclesia Dei commission:

In the order of the day for the meeting was also a discussion on the juridical framework in which to place the Lefebvrists after their readmission into full communion with the Holy See.

The debated questions were, thus, two. ...

Benedict XVI intends to extend the indult of his predecessor, in fact withdrawing from the bishops discretionary power on the matter: the Missal of Saint Pius V is no longer abolished, and even if the ordinary Roman Rite is that originated from the post-conciliar liturgical reform, the old one -- used by centuries in the Church -- can subsist as an "extraordinary rite".

The bishops, therefore, will not be able to deny the ancient mass anymore, but only regulate its eventual celebration, together with the parish priests, harmonising it with the need of the community. The corrections included would have reduced from 50 to 30 the minimal number of faithful who ask for the celebration according to the old rite. As for the readmission of the Lefebvrists, once the rite of Saint Pius V is liberalized, the deal should be easier.

[Hat tip to Rorate Coeli for prividing these English translations of the news releases.]