Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has called on priests and Catholics to give greater attention to the way the Mass is celebrated, stressing that Sunday worship should help deepen the faith of the entire Catholic community.
The Pope appealed in a message to Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, as Cardinals, bishops and lay Catholics gathered in Oregon in the United States for a meeting focused on liturgical formation.
The meeting is being held from August 14 to 19 at the Benedictine Abbey of Mount Angel. It was organized to discuss how Catholics can be better formed through the Church’s liturgy and how the celebration of the sacred mysteries can contribute more deeply to the spiritual life of the faithful.
Pope Leo expressed his support for the gathering and highlighted the importance of continuing the work encouraged by Pope Francis in his Apostolic Letter Desiderio Desideravi. That document reflected on the beauty and spiritual depth of the liturgy and called for a renewed understanding of how Catholics participate in worship.
The Oregon meeting brings together people from different backgrounds within the Church to discuss practical ways of strengthening liturgical formation. The choice of a Benedictine monastery as the setting also reflects the desire to place prayer and spiritual reflection at the heart of the discussions.
Pope Leo stressed that liturgical formation should not be limited to priests, scholars or specialists. Instead, it should become part of the spiritual life of the entire Catholic community. He said the Church needs an ongoing process of formation that helps both clergy and lay people understand the meaning of the liturgy and participate in it with greater awareness.
According to the Pope, Sunday Mass is particularly important in this process because it is the most regular opportunity for Catholics to experience the Church’s liturgical life together.
He pointed to the connection between Sunday worship and the liturgical year, which places the celebration of Christ’s death and resurrection at its centre. For this reason, he said, Sunday celebrations should be deeply formative and should help Catholics grow in their understanding of how the liturgy is celebrated.
Pope Leo also emphasized that participation in the Mass involves more than simply watching what happens at the altar. The priest and the congregation both have an important role in the celebration. Through the Sunday Eucharist, Catholics can learn how to participate more fully in the liturgy while also allowing the liturgy itself to shape their faith and daily lives.
The Pope connected his message with a recent series of catecheses he gave during the Wednesday General Audiences on the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium.
He stressed the importance of following the approved texts and instructions when celebrating the sacred mysteries. According to Pope Leo, fidelity to the Church’s liturgical norms is essential for ensuring that worship is celebrated with dignity and respect.
He particularly encouraged priests and others responsible for preparing and celebrating the liturgy to respect the rites promulgated after the Second Vatican Council under Pope St. Paul VI and Pope St. John Paul II.
For Pope Leo, following the approved liturgical texts is not simply a matter of observing rules. He said this fidelity should come from an inner attitude of humility, trust in God and openness to the Church. Respect for the liturgy, he explained, should reflect a sincere desire to remain united with the wider Catholic community.
The Pope’s message therefore places Sunday Mass at the centre of the Church’s efforts to strengthen Catholic faith. His emphasis is not only on how the liturgy looks or sounds, but on how it forms people spiritually and helps them encounter God.
As the meeting continues in Oregon, participants are expected to reflect on practical ways to improve liturgical formation among both clergy and lay Catholics. The wider goal is to help the faithful understand the sacred liturgy more deeply and participate in it with greater reverence.
Pope Leo concluded his message by entrusting the gathering to Mary, Seat of Wisdom. He prayed that those taking part would receive the wisdom and spiritual discernment needed to serve the Church and strengthen its liturgical life.
The Pope’s appeal comes at a time when the Catholic Church continues to reflect on how the celebration of the Mass can remain faithful to its approved rites while helping believers grow in prayer, understanding and communion. For Pope Leo, reverent worship is not separate from Catholic formation. It is one of the principal ways through which Catholics are formed in their faith.