Cardinal Sarah granted an interview to Tribune Chrétienne from his home in Rome (video, in French, at the end). In it, he had important words regarding a matter close to his heart, the Traditional Latin Mass, and the traditionalist faithful:
[Interviewer:] In Saint-Anne d'Auray, you reminded us that man is great when he is on his knees. A man is great when he is on his knees. So, we know your attachment to traditional liturgy. You recently said that you hoped that the motu proprio Traditionis custodes might be amended. Today, well, there is nothing really new. What do you expect from the new pope with regard to this motu proprio, which has been particularly painful in France, due to the sometimes very clumsy application of this motu proprio by certain bishops? Do you hope that it will be modified at least, or withdrawn?
[Cardinal Sarah:] I still believe that we all need to reflect within the Church. When Jesus instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist, he prayed for our unity. That all may be one.
Oh, we have turned the Mass into a battlefield between traditionalists and progressives, this and that, and we are profaning the Eucharist, whereas Jesus died to reunite God's children scattered throughout the world in unity through the sacrament of the Eucharist, through the sacrament of the liturgy. Why have we turned the liturgy into a battlefield?
I think we need to reflect on this. It is the only time when man is in face-to-face relationship with God. It is the only time when man is in direct contact with God, when God listens to him, when he speaks to God. Why do we have to fight? Why forbid this? Why forbid that? Who gives us this right? Who gives us this power? Someone who has a personal relationship with God? We've never seen this in the history of the Church.
So I think that if the Pope tries to see that it's not easy because the question is a matter of faith. How we believe is how we pray. If we don't have faith, we can't take action. If people don't believe, nothing will change. We continue to fight over the liturgy, we continue to bully certain people. Whereas in fact, when we really look at the Christians who practice today, they are the ones who go to traditional Mass. So why forbid them? On the contrary, we should encourage them.
I don't know what the Pope will do, but he is aware of this battle. He is aware of this difficulty.
[Interviewer:] You had the opportunity to discuss it with him when you met him.
[Cardinal Sarah:] Yes, [I had] the opportunity.
[Interviewer:] Cardinal Burke obtained this traditional Mass [at St. Peter's].
[Cardinal Sarah:] Which will take place, but everyone must be given space. The Pope is the father of everyone, of each one of us. He is the father of the traditionalists. He is the father of the progressives, the father of everyone. He cannot ignore his children. Everyone has their own character, their own sensibilities. Everyone must be taken into account. I think he will try to act in this way.
[Source: Tribune Chrétienne (in French), on YouTube. Tip: reader V.]
