Corpus Christi Watershed

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

Views from the Choir Loft

The Liturgical Style of Pope Francis & John 12:5

· ·

915 Pad VER SINCE the election of our Holy Father, some have striven to convince us of something Pope Francis never said, viz. concern for the poor is incompatible with traditional practices of Catholic liturgy. The primary reason Pope Francis will never make this claim is John 12:5 … and Pope Francis is no Judas Iscariot!

These unqualified sensationalists fail to realize something rather basic. Francis has a slightly different liturgical “style,” not because he rejects John 12:5, but due to his liturgical formation. Similarly, Pope Benedict’s liturgical formation caused him to like orchestral Masses (which, as I’ve said before, are somewhat problematic). Those who misunderstand these matters are often the same people who hope Francis will alter Church teaching on certain moral issues. Perhaps these folks believe Pope Francis will also (somehow) delete or change John 12:5 when he makes those other changes.

Why are some pushing this false narrative? It’s been suggested that these unqualified sensationalists are simply ignorant of John 12:5, or have forgotten about it. I suppose that’s possible. Others have suggested that such people fully understand what true Catholic liturgy is all about, realize how pleasing it is to Almighty God, and (in a diabolical way) have decided to go to war against it. I certainly hope that’s not the case.

For myself, I suspect that such people just don’t believe in the Real Presence. After all, following Church teachings regarding the Liturgy must seem rather silly to those who don’t believe the Holy Eucharist to be the Body, Blood, Soul, & Divinity of Jesus Christ!


“The chalices, corporals, appointments of the altar, and everything that pertains to the sacrifice must be of precious material. And if the most holy Body of the Lord is very poorly reserved in any place, it should be placed in a precious location under lock and kept according to the mandate of the Church and carried about with great reverence and administered to others with discretion…”

— St. Francis of Assisi


Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.