Pope Francis' Strategic WIthdrawl on the 1962 Liturgical Books

In a decree on February 11th (released today), Pope Francis said the following:

The Holy Father Francis, grants to each and every member of the Society of Apostolic Life “Fraternity of Saint Peter”, founded on July 18, 1988 and declared of “Pontifical Right” by the Holy See, the faculty to celebrate the sacrifice of the Mass, and to carry out the sacraments and other sacred rites, as well as to fulfill the Divine Office, according to the typical editions of the liturgical books, namely the Missal, the Ritual, the Pontifical and the Roman Breviary, in force in the year 1962.

They may use this faculty in their own churches or oratories; otherwise it may only be used with the consent of the Ordinary of the place, except for the celebration of private Masses.

Without prejudice to what has been said above, the Holy Father suggests that, as far as possible, the provisions of the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes be taken into account as well.

Given in Rome, near St. Peter’s, on February 11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, in the year 2022, the ninth year of my Pontificate.

A few simple sentences, but a lot to unpack. I think what we are seeing here is the beginning of a strategic withdrawal regarding Traditonis Custodes. Nobody is dumb enough to think that the Pope is going to abandon his decree less than one year after issuing it. Yet I do think he can read the room. The text left unclear the future of the FSSP, but CDW prefect Roche made clear that while he had no authority over the FSSP, the "principle has been established that ordinations in the Latin Church are conferred as directed by the Rite approved by Apostolic Constitution in 1968".  (Interview with Edward Pentin of National Catholic Register.)  How do you reconcile this decree with Roche's statement?  You can't.  So either the Pope disagreed publicly with the head of the CDW (unlikely), or they've had to adjust their approach.

For me, I think the final sentence, seemingly out of nowhere, is the tell:

Without prejudice to what has been said above, the Holy Father suggests that, as far as possible, the provisions of the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes be taken into account as well.

That the Holy Father has to make this suggestion is evidence that, as a matter of general practice, the provisions of Traditionis Custodes are not being taken into consideration. Nor are the hateful and bigoted decrees of the CDW dubia.  There isn't "resistance" to TC and the Dubia, there's indifference and apathy.  The Pope is hoping that by showing that he is no longer seeking to eradicate the TLM, Bishops will be more likely to apply the restrictions.

At this point traditionalists will talk about how the Pope is "playing the long game" and thinking strategically.  That he will come around later to attempt to do the full scale ban.  I think this gives them credit as shrewd and tactful agents that they absolutely do not deserve.  I have no doubt they envision themselves as political geniuses.  Yet they are not.  Their machinations at the various synods ended in failure, and far from showing a better command of the Church, everyone is in agreement that there will be no "Pope Francis Catholics" after he dies, especially among the young.  His promises of grand reform have all mostly gone to the wayside, being hopelessly bogged down in a million small battles along the way.

Whether or not the Pope thinks he will get another shot, I think the upshot here is he will not get another shot.  There may be some attempts to further discriminate against and persecute people in the diocesan world who wish to offer the TLM, but the implementation of those decrees is left to the local ordinary, the very same individuals who have mostly reacted to TC/CDW dubia by finding something else to do.  Everyone was waiting for new decrees from bishops after the Dubia.  Outside of two or three, (and some of them an insistence they would not allow an infringement upon their authority) most Bishops simply did nothing.

Whatever the long term intentions of the Holy Father, this is a de-escalation, and should be welcomed as such.  Yet more is needed. This is not likely to be taken as a token of good faith and good will, because the Pope was mostly powerless to accomplish what he desired.  What will get a genuine thaw in relationships is for the Pope to genuinely change his mind on something, which is unlikely.

So for now before TC, tensions were at a 1.  Then they were at a 10.  Now?  A 7.  People are less likely to do something stupid at a 7 compared to a 10, but the situation hasn't cooled entirely, and probably won't for the short time Francis is left on the throne.  Still, that we are not spending his final hours in trench warfare is something we should be grateful for.