"Pope wants the Latin Mass everywhere"

Damian Thompson, in his slightly cheeky 'Holy Smoke' column in the Telegraph (UK), writes: "Bishops Hollis and Conry, if you have ever thought of jumping ship to the C of E, now might a good time to do so. According to a senior Vatican cardinal, Pope Benedict wants the old Latin Mass celebrated in parishes even where the people have not asked for it." Thompson's article, entitled "Pope wants the Latin Mass everywhere" (Telegraph, May 5, 2008), sports a photo of a priest in Tridentine vestments celebrating the Mass ad orientem in a slightly superman-esque pose, beneath which one reads in bold: "English bishops take note: this is what the Mass looks like." Thompson then continues:

Well! That will certainly drive a horse and cart through the English bishops’ shameful attempts to ignore Summorum Pontificum, last year’s papal letter removing their power to block the 1962 (Tridentine) Missal.

According to the Catholic News Agency, Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, head of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, let the cat out of the bag in an interview for a DVD instructing priests on how to celebrate the Extraordinary Form.

Here’s the money quote: “The cardinal said that parishes and priests should make available the Extraordinary Form so that ‘everyone may have access to this treasure of the ancient liturgy of the Church’. He also stressed that, ‘even if it is not specifically asked for, or requested’ it should be provided. Interestingly, he added that the Pope wants this Mass to become normal in parishes, so that ‘young communities can also become familiar with this rite’.”

Thompson suggests, however, that the Pope may need to make one additional provision to realize his goal: "New bishops. Lots of them. And fast."

[Hat tip to A.S.]