'Instruction' on traditional liturgy to be released May 13

The Vatican has announced that a new Instruction on the implementation of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, regarding the broader use of the traditional Latin Mass, will be released on Friday, May 13.

The long-awaited Instruction is entitled Universae Ecclesiae, the Vatican indicated in the May 11 announcement. The document will be released in several different languages.

Universae Ecclesiae is expected to strengthen the call by Pope Benedict XVI to make the traditional liturgy available to the faithful in every diocese. The new document will make it clear that pastors do not need further permission from their bishops in order to celebrate the Latin Mass, informed observers say.

Universae Ecclesiae will be published in the May 14 edition of the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican press office said. Because of the odd system used for the cover date of the newspaper, the May 14 edition is scheduled to appear in print on the afternoon of May 13.