Cardinal Pell: The old Mass is essential part of our patrimony.

Interview with George Cardinal Pell, Member of the Council of Cardinals and Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy

Gloria.tv: Your Eminence, participants in the last Synod of Bishops have questioned Catholic moral doctrine. Has this fact alone not done damage to the Church?

I think it's a mixed blessing. These tensions exist. There are people who have mistaken ideas - in the parishes, in the communities. And I think it is the idea of the Holy Father that it is better for these things to come out and to be confronted - rather than for us to pretend that they don't exist. They do exist and there was vigorous discussion at the first Synod. The great majority of the fathers of the Synod were following the Tradition.

In periods of the greatest expansion of the Church after the first Christian emperor Constantine, there was an enormous amount of public bitterness and discussion and differences. And the Church prospered. So it's a little bit painful for us - who are more used to a quiet life. But I think in the long run it will be for the better of the Church and we will find that the Tradition is sympathetically but emphatically restated.

Gloria.tv: You do also celebrate Mass in the extraordinary form. Why?

I do celebrate Mass sometimes in the extraordinary form. One reason for that was because I was brought up in that tradition. The changes only came in just about the time I was ordained. I think they are an essential and beautiful part of our tradition. I think they have considerable strength, some weaknesses. I think the community dimension is lacking.

But I think the old rite brings across the importance of transcendence: that we are really participating in an act of worship. So I have an enormous respect for the old Mass, for the people who worship in that rite. I don't think it is the key to the future. But it is a beautiful and essential part of our patrimony. And if people want this form of worship I think it's entirely appropriate within our tradition to offer it for them.