His Holiness Pope Leo XIV

Press Release on the Election of Pope Leo XIV from the Latin Mass Society

The Latin Mass Society welcomes Pope Leo and assures him of our heartfelt prayers.

The Society has been distinguished since its foundation for its obedience to the Holy See, even in the most difficult and indeed tragic circumstances. We pray that Pope Leo, like his distinguished namesakes, the first Pope Leo, the Great, and the most recent, Pope Leo XIII, may be a beacon of orthodoxy and charity in a troubled world. May all the faithful say, like the Fathers of the Council of Chalcedon: ‘Peter has spoken through Leo’.

We pray that he may have the greatness of soul to acknowledge the contribution the Traditional Latin Mass continues to make to the life of the Church, allow it a place of honour in our churches, and promote the reconciliation of Catholics attached to it.

We invite our supporters and all Catholics to have Masses said for Pope Leo, and to offer the rosary for him, and other devotions. We will present a spiritual bouquet of these offerings to him in due course; those wishing to contribute can do so here.

Prayer for a newly elected Pope (from the ancient Roman Missal):

DEUS, ómnium fidélium pastor et rector, fámulum tuum Leonem, quem pastórem Ecclésiæ tuæ præésse voluísti, propítius réspice: da ei, quǽsumus, verbo et exémplo, quibus præest, profícere; ut ad vitam, una cum grege sibi crédito, pervéniat sempitérnam. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.

O God the Pastor and Ruler of all the faithful, look favourably on Thy servant Leo whom Thou hast been pleased to appoint as shepherd of Thy Church: grant to him, we beseech Thee, that by word and example he may edify those over whom he is placed, so that, with the flock entrusted to him, he may attain unto life everlasting. Through Christ our Lord.

Notes for Editors
The Latin Mass Society was founded in 1965 to support the continued celebration of the Catholic liturgy in the form it took at the eve of the Second Vatican Council: the ‘1962 Missal’, the ‘antecedent Missal’, the Vetus Ordo or Traditional Mass.

The Traditional Mass has been given greater or less freedom by successive recent Popes; in 2021 Pope Francis restricted it with his Apostolic Letter Traditionis custodes.

Press contacts:
Communications Officer, Daniel Beurthe [email protected]
Chairman, Joseph Shaw [email protected]