On the Sunday after Easter, approximately 140 worshippers gathered at Detroit’s Sweetest Heart of Mary church for the Traditional Latin Mass. The sanctuary, richly adorned and constructed by Polish Catholics in the late 1800s, was filled with the scent of incense and the sound of organ music on a bright spring afternoon, with blooming lilacs near the rectory adding to the atmosphere.
Despite the serene setting, the congregation was overshadowed by uncertainty. Less than three weeks prior, Archbishop Edward Weisenburger of Detroit had informed priests of plans to significantly limit the availability of the traditional Latin Mass in the archdiocese starting this summer. This move follows a 2021 directive from Pope Francis that restricted the rite globally, provoking concern and strong reactions among traditionalist Catholics.
The pope’s death on April 21 has cast doubt on the implementation of these restrictions, offering a glimmer of hope to those advocating for the preservation of the Latin Mass.
“If the new pope chooses, he could immediately restore broad access to the Latin Mass,” said Kiera Raymond, an 18-year-old Michigan college student who organized a “Latin Mass Mob” to support parishes offering the traditional rite before the anticipated cutbacks.
The Traditional Latin Mass was once the universal form of Catholic worship until the reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s introduced the modern Mass. Key distinctions include the priest facing the altar rather than the congregation for most of the service, receiving Communion directly on the tongue, and conducting the liturgy predominantly in Latin rather than local languages.
In recent years, the Latin Mass has become a focal point of theological and ideological tensions within the American Catholic Church, with its conservative adherents emphasizing doctrinal orthodoxy over the more progressive approaches associated with the current papacy.
Pope Francis has described the traditional Mass as divisive and has made remarks that have unsettled traditionalists, including critical comments on large families and clerical attire.
Although the traditional Mass accounts for a small fraction of Catholic worship, its popularity is growing, especially among younger Catholics and priests. Detroit’s archdiocese currently hosts 28 parishes and chapels offering the Latin Mass, while national estimates suggest around 500 venues provide it.
In this context, Archbishop Weisenburger announced plans on April 8 to reduce the traditional Mass to four or five locations from July onward. One such location, St. Joseph Shrine, regularly draws up to 650 worshippers each Sunday and is preparing for increased attendance after the restrictions take effect.
Following public outcry, the archbishop issued a letter seeking to clarify his position, emphasizing his wish to avoid distractions early in his tenure and suggesting that concerns surrounding the traditional Mass may relate more to the character of some priests than to the liturgy itself.
A spokesperson for the archdiocese explained that parishes had been granted temporary extensions to continue the traditional Mass following the 2021 papal restrictions, but these were set to expire this summer. The archbishop believes sufficient time has been provided for compliance with the Holy Father’s directives.
Across the archdiocese's churches that Sunday, a sense of cautious anticipation prevailed.
“There is a lot of fear,” said Lauren Leyva, the 33-year-old organist at St. Edward on the Lake, located about an hour north of Detroit. She and her family, including two young children, regularly attend the traditional Mass.
“We prayed for the pope’s health,” Leyva shared after Mass, “but we remain hopeful for change.”
Priests who celebrate the traditional Mass in Detroit find themselves in a sensitive position. Some are quietly working to preserve the rite within their parishes or regions, while most avoid public confrontation as the restrictions approach and the Church awaits the election of a new pope.
“Right now, the situation is uncertain,” said the Rev. Brian Hurley, who celebrates the traditional Mass for congregations exceeding 200 in Lapeer, Michigan. He noted that many young couples request weddings in the old rite and that priests are collaborating discreetly to maintain access to the traditional Mass as widely as possible.
At St. Edward on the Lake, the Rev. Lee Acervo encouraged his congregation at the early traditional Mass to focus on prayer rather than lobbying the archbishop, urging trust in divine guidance.
Father Acervo, along with other priests facing the loss of the traditional Mass in July, declined interviews. In a parish bulletin letter, he underscored the significance of the upcoming papal conclave.
“We are at a critical moment in the Church’s history,” he wrote. “We must pray for a holy and saintly pope—one who teaches with clarity and refuses to compromise the faith for worldly acceptance.”
Critics of the outgoing pope have accused him of causing confusion with inconsistent teachings, particularly on topics such as marriage.
Traditionalists are closely monitoring the lead-up to the conclave in Rome, favoring candidates like Cardinal Peter Erdo of Hungary and Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea, a former Vatican liturgy chief known for opposing Pope Francis’ reforms.
“Having this Mass taken away feels like a personal attack,” said Anna Graziosi, 79, president of the parish council at Assumption Grotto on Detroit’s east side. She attended a small early morning traditional Mass alongside about 20 others.
Graziosi’s family immigrated to Detroit from Italy when she was a child, and she was raised attending the Latin Mass before the Vatican II reforms.
She found the new Mass less engaging, often losing focus, whereas the Latin Mass required attentive, prayerful participation.
Returning to the Latin Mass at her childhood parish reignited her devotion and focus during worship.
Reflecting on Pope Francis’ passing, she said, “I pray for a merciful judgment on his soul, as I prayed for him in life.”
