America


Leo Faces Simmering Feud Over Latin Mass


Amid fiscal woes and other crises, American-born pontiff must confront challenge from traditionalists.


T BY JOHN GIZZI


he honeymoon period for Pope Leo XIV, the 267th occupant of the throne of St. Peter, is still ongoing


and there is little pressure for the first- ever American pontiff to deal with matters of controversy for now. But it won’t be long before Leo will


find himself grappling with many of the problems that Francis, his pre- decessor, faced and which did not go away with his passing. These include the role of the church


in seeking peace between warring sides in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as Francis’ own statements on such issues as illegal immigration and economics. At a time when the church debt is


running at $90 million per month, the financial disarray of the Vatican will almost surely bedevil Leo. Serious issues, all right. But there is another pressing issue that is more


related to individual Roman Cath- olics: How they are permitted to worship? Namely, in the traditional rite in Latin, in which Catholics cel- ebrated Mass for 500 years, or the rite that emerged in the late 1960s that celebrated in the languages of individual countries and with quite different liturgical actions on the altar from that of the traditional Latin Mass.


It may sound like inside base-


ball to non-Catholics. But given the intensity over the so-called “Mass wars” between priests, church offi- cials, and lay worshippers, it will demand some sort of resolution, and soon. For centuries, all Catholics wor-


shiped in the same Mass, which was said exclusively in Latin and in which the priest faced the same


Robert Francis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV


Age: 69 Nationality:


American and Peruvian Born: 1955 in Chicago


to Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martínez, of Spanish descent. He has two brothers, Louis Martín


and John Joseph. Education: Villanova


University, where he earned a degree in mathematics. He studied philosophy at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Previous positions: Prefect of the Dicastery


for Bishops; president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America under Francis Experience:


Archbishop of Chiclayo, Peru; head of the Augustinian religious order. Made cardinal by Pope Francis


18 NEWSMAX | JUNE 2025


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