Communiqué
On Monday 4 September 2000 a delegation of members of the International Una Voce Federation and Pro Missa Tridentina were granted an audience by His Eminence Dario Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy and President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (PCED). The audience took place in the office of the Congregation for the Clergy from 1215 until 1400. On behalf of the delegation, the International President, Michael Davies, congratulated the Cardinal on his appointment and said that they had received great encouragement from his interview with the Austrian journal Profil in which he had stated:
We must see that people who prefer the old rite of the Church do not do anything bad. Is it a problem to permit today again the Latin Mass which was for so long a time the standard? I believe these people are concerned for the holy, the Mystery of the Mass and respect for customs. Why don't we give thus the liberty to celebrate the Mass in such a way?His Eminence was asked, in view of the fact that the letter Protocol 1411, 1999, of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, states that every priest of the Roman Rite may use the Missal of 1970, whether it might be possible to implement the recommendation of the 1986 Commission of Cardinals that any priest wishing to celebrate Mass in Latin should be free to chose between the Missals of 1962 and 1970. He was also urged to intervene on behalf of our members with bishops who refuse to permit celebrations according to the 1962 Missal. This had been done by Cardinal Mayer during his presidency of the Commission, but very rarely by his two successors.
His Eminence was informed that we wished celebrations according to the 1962 Missal to be carried out in accordance with the rubrics of that Missal without incorporating any subsequent developments such as Communion in the hand or the modifications made in the 1965 Missal. Considerable concern was expressed regarding recent events involving the Fraternity of St Peter, and our submission was concluded by expressing a desire to remain in regular contact with the PCED.
The Cardinal took careful note of all the points made to him, and during his very detailed reply he stated that he considered the Missal of St Pius V to be a great treasure of the Church, and that it attracted young people not primarily for the use of the Latin language but for the sense of mystery that it imparts. He assured us that he would contact bishops who declined to permit Mass according to the 1962 Missal, and that he could see no reason why we should not be granted the use of all the liturgical books in use in 1962. It was his opinion that the Motu Proprio "Ecclesia Dei" put a serious responsibility upon bishops to implement it, and that only when there are serious reasons to the contrary should requests be denied.
As regards the Fraternity of St Peter, His Eminence insisted that his intention had been to preserve and strengthen the Fraternity. He spoke of the practice of concelebration as an important sign of ecclesial charity and the unity of the Church, and explained that although he would like to see members of the Fraternity concelebrate with their diocesan bishops on Holy Thursday they would not be compelled to do so. He mentioned that he had appointed as Superior General, Father Arnaud Devillers who had told him that up to now he had never celebrated Mass according to the 1970 Missal. The Cardinal stated that in the future, after a period of stability, the Fraternity may resume functioning in the ordinary way with regard to elections.
His Eminence thanked us for bringing our concerns to him, and assured us that we would be welcome in his office whenever we come to Rome. All the delegates were impressed by the warmth of his reception and his evident desire to do all in his power to ensure that, in accordance with the Motu Proprio "Ecclesia Dei", respect is shown for our rightful aspirations.
After reviewing this communiqué His Eminence wished it to be made clear that the Commission has the authority to make certain modifications for the celebration of Mass according to the 1962 Roman Missal, as it has done for certain French abbeys, and as Cardinal Mayer stated in his 1990 letter to English-speaking bishops. These may be followed by communities who wish for them. They will be clearly delineated in a subsequent document to be issued by the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei".
The International Federation was represented at the audience by its President, Mr Michael Davies, the President d'Honneur, Dr Eric M. De Saventhem, Miss Eliska Kucirkova (Czech Republic), Monsieur Jacques Dhaussy (France), Dr Helmut Rückriegel (Germany), Mr Peadar Laighléis (Ireland), Count Neri Capponi (Italy), Mr Jan Filip Libicki (Poland), Dr F. Haehnel and Mr W. Basile (USA). Frau Monika Rheinschmitt represented Pro Missa Tridentina. Also present in Rome to assist in preparing the submission to the Cardinal, but unable to be present for the audience, were Mr Leo Darroch (England and Wales), Dr Mario Seno (Italy), Mr Karl Kvadsheim (Norway), and Mr Ralf Siebenbürger (Austria).On Saturday 2nd September, the Official Mass of the Federation for the Jubilee was celebrated in the Chapel of St Stephen in the Church of St Paul outside the Walls. The Mass was organised by Dr Mario Seno and, was celebrated in the Ambrosian Rite by His Excellency Mgr Bernardo Citterio, auxiliary Bishop of Milan emeritus, with the participation of the Una Voce Choir of Rome. The chapel was packed for the Mass which was agreed by everyone present to be an inspiring and unforgettable occasion. On Sunday 3rd September delegates were present in St Peter's Square for the five beatifications, and a number of them later made a Pilgrimage to the Basilica of St. Lawrence outside the Walls to venerate the Body of the Blessed Pope Pius IX.