Catholic World News News Feature

Russian Orthodox prelate welcomes return of Latin Mass August 31, 2007

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexei II has said that the revival of the traditional Mass will have a positive effect on relations between the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

"We strongly adhere to tradition," Patriarch Alexei said in an August interview with the Italian newspaper Il Giornale "The recovery and honoring of an ancient liturgical tradition is a development that we can welcome."

Patriarch Alexei was answering questions about the motu proprio in which Pope Benedict XVI eased access to use of the 1962 Roman Missal. Questioned directly about recent developments in relations between Moscow and Rome, the Russian prelate noted that Pope Benedict "has repeated many times that he hopes to work toward dialogue and collaboration with the Orthodox churches." The Russian patriarch presides over the largest Church in the Orthodox world.