Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco welcomes on X.com the 3 July letter by British celebrities in The Times in support of the Roman Mass.
"The diverse coalition of signatories to the petition to Francis shows that even beyond its spiritual value, the traditional Latin Mass is a cultural treasure that has inspired artistic creativity of every kind and in every age, building what we know as Western civilisation", he writes.
Archbishop Cordileone thanks the signatories for making their voices heard.
In the letter, leading members of British society, including Catholics, Protestants, non-Christians and atheists, had praised the "magnificent spiritual and cultural heritage" of the Mass:
"The traditional liturgy is a 'cathedral' of text and gesture developing like those venerable buildings over many centuries," they wrote.
"Not everyone appreciates its value, and that is fine; but to destroy it seems an unnecessary and insensitive act in a world where history can all too easily …More