Pope Francis rolled back what some considered his predecessor’s olive branch to traditionalist Catholics by severely restricting celebration of the old Latin Mass. The move essentially reversed a liberalization of the older rite decreed by Pope emeritus Benedict XVI in 2007.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican’s doctrinal watchdog agency, sent a questionnaire, at the pope’s request, to bishops’ conferences last year.
The survey contained nine questions:
1. What is the situation in your diocese with respect to the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite?
2. If the extraordinary form is practiced there, does it respond to a true pastoral need or is it promoted by a single priest?
3. In your opinion, are there positive or negative aspects of the use of the extraordinary form?
4. Are the norms and conditions established by Summorum Pontificum respected?
5. Does it occur to you that, in your diocese, the ordinary form has adopted elements of the extraordinary form?
6. For the celebration of the Mass, do you use the Missal promulgated by Pope John XXIII in 1962?
7. Besides the celebration of the Mass in the extraordinary form, are there other celebrations (for example Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, Penance, Unction of the sick, Ordination, Divine Office, Easter Triduum, funeral rites) according to the liturgical books prior to Vatican Council II?
8. Has the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum had an influence on the life of seminaries (the seminary of diocese) and others formation houses?
9. Thirteen years after the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, what is your advice about the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite?