Pope Leo’s catechesis focused on the Second Vatican Councilʼs constitution, “Sacrosanctum Concilium,” a document that transformed the way Catholics celebrate Mass.
At the general audience on May 27, Pope Leo XIV urged priests to respect the “norms of the liturgy” and not to make changes to the Mass “on their own initiative,” in order to avoid confusing the faithful.
“I encourage all priests to respect the texts and norms of the liturgy with openness, humility, trust in God’s greatness, and with sincere fidelity to ecclesial communion,” the pope said in remarks in St. Peterʼs Square.
Pope Leo XIV waves to pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square during the general audience on May 27, 2026. The pope spoke about the Second Vatican Council and the need for priests to follow liturgical norms. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News
The Second Vatican Council “affirmed that legitimate progress in the liturgy must also preserve sound tradition and that certain elements of the liturgy can never change because they are divinely instituted,” he said.
Vatican II’s reform of the Mass
Leo’s catechesis on Wednesday continued his reflections on the magisterium of the Second Vatican Council, focusing on the constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium, promulgated by St. Paul VI on Dec. 4, 1963. It is one of the most important documents to emerge from the council, since it transformed the way Catholics celebrate the Mass.
The pope offered a historical overview of the context in which Vatican II was convened, noting: “At that moment in history, there was a strong sense of the need for a renewal of the ritual forms through which, for centuries, the Church had glorified God and sanctified the Christian people.”
Pope Leo XIV blesses a baby in St. Peter’s Square during the general audience on May 27, 2026. The pope spoke about the Second Vatican Council and the need for priests to follow liturgical norms. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News
He also underscored that, thanks to the liturgical movement, the conviction had developed — later expressed by St. John Paul II — that “‘a very close and organic bond exists between the renewal of the liturgy and the renewal of the whole life of the Church. The Church not only acts but also expresses herself in the liturgy, lives by the liturgy, and draws from the liturgy the strength for her life’ (Letter Dominicae Cenae, 13).”
The pontiff reflected on Sacrosanctum Concilium, which he said sought “to encourage the access of the faithful to the richness of the gifts of grace dispensed by the sacred liturgy.” The pope highlighted the formula adopted by the council fathers: “That sound tradition may be retained, and yet the way remain open to legitimate progress.”
To deepen this idea, the pope quoted Pope Benedict XVI, who explained that the council fathers’ “reform program” sought “a balance between the great liturgical tradition of the past and that of the future.”
Pilgrims stand in St. Peter’s Square during Pope Leo XIV’s general audience on May 27, 2026. The pope spoke about the Second Vatican Council and the need for priests to follow liturgical norms. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News
Benedict XVI said that “tradition and progress are often clumsily opposed,” but the late pope noted that “actually, the two concepts merge: Tradition is a living reality, which therefore includes in itself the principle of development, of progress.”
Leo XIV said the progress referred to by Sacrosanctum Concilium “in no way compromises ecclesial communion; rather, it seeks to confirm and foster it.”
He emphasized that “changes of this type have taken place constantly over the centuries in order to enable the faithful to participate fruitfully, through ritual actions, in the paschal mystery of Christ, the foundation of the Christian faith.”
“For the good of the entire Church, every reform must always be preceded by careful ‘theological, historical, and pastoral’ investigation,” the Holy Father said. “The council magisterium, in this way, thus calls for the avoidance of confusion amongst the faithful, discouraging anyone from adding, removing, or altering anything in liturgical matters on their own initiative.”
The Church’s worship, he added, has been “embodied” in the cultural forms of each age and has been able to influence them and even transform them.
“The liturgy has thus been, for centuries, a driving force for evangelization. Today, this energy must be renewed in continuity with the authentic and living Catholic tradition, that is, in accordance with a dynamic aimed at introducing believers to the fullness of the truth,” he said.
War in Ukraine
In an appeal at the end of the audience, Leo expressed his concern over a recent intensification of the war in Ukraine. The Holy Father said he was entrusting everyone affected by war to the protection of Mary, Queen of Peace.
“I wish to express my solidarity with all those suffering as a result of the recent attacks, which have also targeted civilians,” he said.
“War does not solve problems; it exacerbates them,“ he said. ”It does not build security; it multiplies suffering and hatred. Where missiles and drones fall, hopes are crushed, homes and places of worship are destroyed, and innocent lives are cut short.”
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
