Universae Ecclesiae

1. nn. 13–14Diocesan bishops are to see that the older form is respected in their dioceses and to take the measures needed for that. In disputed cases the Pontifical Commission “will adjudicate”.
2. n. 20Every Catholic priest who is not impeded by canon law is considered qualified to celebrate in the older form. Basic knowledge of Latin is needed, and priests who present themselves spontaneously and have celebrated it before are presumed qualified.
3. n. 23A priest may celebrate without a congregation, and for such celebrations he does not need special permission from his Ordinary or superiors.
4. nn. 24–25The 1962 books are to be used as they are, and the rubrics must be followed. New saints and some new prefaces can be added to the 1962 Missal.
5. nn. 16–17A pastor or rector is to permit a visiting priest to celebrate in the older form in his church, while respecting the schedule of celebrations there.

It is a norm for applying Summorum Pontificum, not a new motu proprio. It says the Pontifical Commission will look after future editions of the 1962 texts (n. 11), it permits the books of religious orders in use in 1962 and the 1962 Pontificale and Rituale (nn. 34–35), and it states that the 1983 Code of Canon Law governs disciplinary norms connected with celebration (n. 27). It also says that the motu proprio derogates from later provisions connected with the sacred rites that are incompatible with the rubrics of 1962 (n. 28).

• What people say: A priest needs the bishop’s permission to say the 1962 Mass without people.

  What the text says: The Instruction says that for such celebrations priests “do not require any special permission from their Ordinaries or superiors” (n. 23). n. 23

• What people say: Only priests specially trained in the older rite may say it.

  What the text says: Every Catholic priest who is not impeded by canon law is considered qualified for the older form (n. 20a). Bishops are asked to offer clergy the chance to prepare (n. 21). nn. 20–21

• What people say: The older Mass may only be said in a church set aside for it.

  What the text says: A visiting priest with a group may celebrate in a parish church if the pastor permits it, and the pastor decides individual cases with his own prudence (nn. 16–17). nn. 16–17

• “each particular Church must be in accord with the universal Church”

  n. 3

• “priests are presumed to be qualified who present themselves spontaneously to celebrate the forma extraordinaria”

  n. 20c

• “do not require any special permission from their Ordinaries or superiors”

  n. 23