March 8, 2026

Pope Leo XIV recently held a private audience with sociologists Stephen Bullivant and Stephen Cranney, who co-authored a study revealing that most Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) attendees uphold Catholic doctrine and the Second Vatican Council, challenging narratives that this community is largely schismatic or opposed to Vatican II. Their 2024 research found nearly half of TLM participants affirm Vatican II teachings while the vast majority accept core Catholic doctrines, including belief in the Real Presence, contrasting with broader Catholic trends in the U.S. This meeting occurs amid uncertainty about whether Pope Leo XIV will relax the restrictions on the Tridentine Mass established by Pope Francis, though the study notably excluded members of the Society of St. Pius X, focusing instead on those attending diocese-approved TLM parishes.

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