If the new pope takes a more welcoming line to traditionalists, and holds the line on abortion, euthanasia, and gender ideology, he will go far in winning over U.S. Catholic conservatives.
A choice of diversity and openness—to use concepts that should be in vogue—has worked to reverse the aging trend in apostolic vocations in Bishop Rey’s diocese. But the decision from Rome proves that the Pope, and he alone, determines what passes for diversity and openness.
The subject of these pages is, in a broad sense, religious—Catholic—traditionalists. Yves Chiron also explains why being a ‘traditionalist’ is not exactly the same as being a ‘traditional’ Catholic.
The delegation had requested a private audience, which was not granted. Nevertheless, as the Pope thanked the crowd in various languages, he publicly mentioned the presence of La Voie Romaine association by name.
It is noticeable that many of the book’s Anglophone contributors are almost bewildered by the sudden papal attack on the traditional liturgy. This is a shortcoming of the Anglo-centric perspective, which underestimates the depth of the antipathy towards the Apostolic Roman Rite amongst many non-Anglophone bishops.
