Pope Leo XIV Urges French Bishops to Heal Divisions and Foster Unity with TLM Communities

At their Spring Plenary Assembly, the President of the French Episcopal Conference indicates that the liturgy will be discussed at the next consistory of Cardinals.

(Pope Leo receives French Cardinal Marc Aveline in private audience, March 2026. Vatican Media)

ROME, 25 March 2026—Pope Leo XIV has written to the Bishops of France encouraging them to find “practical solutions” aimed at healing liturgical divisions and fostering unity with communities attached to the traditional Roman rite (vetus ordo).

In a letter sent on the Pope’s behalf to the French Episcopal Conference gathered in Lourdes for their Spring Plenary Assembly from March 24-27, Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said the Holy Father is paying “particular attention” to the subject of the liturgy. The topic of “Liturgy and Tradition” is scheduled to be discussed by the bishops on Thursday, March 26.

Conveying the Holy Father’s sentiments, Cardinal Parolin wrote:

“Dear brothers, you intend to address the delicate subject of the Liturgy, to which the Holy Father pays particular attention, in the context of the growth of communities attached to the Vetus Ordo. It is concerning that a painful wound continues to persist within the Church regarding the celebration of the Mass, the very sacrament of unity. Healing it requires a renewed openness to one another, with deeper understanding of each other’s sensitivities—a perspective that can allow brothers, enriched by their diversity, to welcome one another in charity and in the unity of faith. May the Holy Spirit inspire you with practical solutions that generously include those sincerely attached to the Vetus Ordo, in harmony with the directives of the Second Vatican Council regarding the Liturgy.

Noting the Pope’s letter in his opening address at the assembly, Cardinal Marc Aveline, President of the French Bishops’ Conference, emphasized the need to respond to the spiritual needs of all the baptized while remaining faithful to the Church’s Tradition and councils, including Vatican II.

He also indicated that the liturgy would be on the agenda at the next consistory of cardinals convened by the Pope, saying, “This subject is important enough that we should begin to address it together over the course of our assemblies, in connection with the work of the Consistory this coming June.”

The June 27-28 consistory of cardinals will take place almost one year to the day after previously undisclosed documentscame to light exposing major cracks in the foundation of Traditionis Custodes, Pope Francis’ 2021 decree restricting the traditional Roman liturgy. The documents revealed that, contrary to the stated rationale for imposing Traditionis Custodes, the majority of bishops who responded to a 2020 Vatican questionnaire stated that making legislative changes to Benedict XIV’s Summorum Pontificum, which liberalized the vetus ordo, would “cause more harm than good.”

Here below is an English translation of the letter sent on the Pope’s behalf to the French Bishops’ Conference.

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Dear Brothers,

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has entrusted me with conveying to you his warmest wishes for the smooth and fruitful progress of your Plenary Assembly. He assures you of his fraternal prayers and hopes that this gathering may serve as a renewed opportunity to strengthen the bonds of brotherly charity among you, in the shared pursuit of God’s will for the Church in France.

The Holy Father has taken note of the topics you intend to address, several of which have particularly drawn his attention. In particular, in response to the Apostolic Letter Drawing New Maps of Hope, you will reflect on the theme of education—a theme that had especially engaged Pope Francis, given its vital importance both for the future of the world and for the proclamation of the Gospel. Your work takes place within a context of growing hostility toward Catholic institutions, with their distinctive character increasingly questioned. With respect for each person’s convictions and a constant commitment to broad welcome, the Pope encourages you to defend resolutely the Christian dimension of Catholic education, which, without reference to Jesus Christ, would lose its very foundation.

One focus of your reflection will be the ongoing fight against the abuse of minors and the process of reparations, which you have undertaken with determination. Indeed, it is essential to persevere in the long-term prevention measures already put in place and to continue demonstrating the Church’s care for victims, alongside God’s mercy toward all. It is important that priests guilty of abuse are not excluded from this mercy and remain the subject of pastoral reflection. Moreover, after several years of painful crises, the time has come to look resolutely to the future and to convey to the priests of France—who have endured great trials—a message of encouragement and confidence.

Finally, dear brothers, you intend to address the delicate subject of the Liturgy, to which the Holy Father pays particular attention, in the context of the growth of communities attached to the Vetus Ordo. It is concerning that a painful wound continues to persist within the Church regarding the celebration of the Mass, the very sacrament of unity. Healing it requires a renewed openness to one another, with deeper understanding of each other’s sensitivities—a perspective that can allow brothers, enriched by their diversity, to welcome one another in charity and in the unity of faith. May the Holy Spirit inspire you with practical solutions that generously include those sincerely attached to the Vetus Ordo, in harmony with the directives of the Second Vatican Council regarding the Liturgy.

Dear brothers, the Supreme Pontiff assures you of his deep attachment and of the special interest he takes in the Eldest Daughter of the Church. He prays for all Catholics in France, for their clergy, that they may persevere in the faith and in the courageous proclamation of the Gospel, in times which are certainly challenging, yet marked by signs of hope and of God’s presence in hearts. Renewing his encouragement to you, and entrusting you to the intercession of Our Lady of the Assumption and of all the Saints of France, the Holy Father gladly imparts to you the Apostolic Blessing.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin
Secretary of State of His Holiness
From the Vatican, 18 March 2026