Forthcoming papal decree authorizes expanded use of Tridentine Mass, Vatican says - Catholic Online

Catholic Online runs the follow reprint: Forthcoming papal decree authorizes expanded use of Tridentine Mass, Vatican says

Some excerpts:

Cardinal Bertone refuted media reports intimating that the papal decree will remove power from bishops in this matter. [Although, it seems clear that it will be modified from the way it stands today.] As the pope had done in his letter, the cardinal outlined three key reasons for issuing the document.

The first... to ease the full communion and reconciliation of the St. Pius X Society with the pope.

[...]

A second reason... to enable "wider use" of the Tridentine Mass. Unlike the "ordinary form" approved by Paul VI in 1969, in the Motu Proprio, the Tridentine Mass is considered an "extraordinary" expression of the Latin Rite.

Benedict... devised the "extraordinary" form as a way to unblock the situation and accommodate those people.

The third reason... to preserve "the treasures" of the Church's older culture, including Latin in the liturgy, and to integrate them into the contemporary culture.

Pope Benedict suggested in his nearly one-hour meeting with participants that if five or six Sunday Masses are offered in a diocesan cathedral, the bishop could designate one of them for celebration according to the John XXIII missal, if a sizable number of people ask for it.

All participants expressed their views at the meeting. Some saw the Motu Proprio as an expression of "pastoral charity," or a strong affirmation of "diversity in unity." By the end of the meeting, most indicated their basic acceptance of the text, but a few, like the French, still had reservations.

The Motu Proprio provides for a review of the situation in three years. [Some have expressed concern over this. If such in fact is prsent in the Motu Proprio, which we don't yet know for certain, my view is this. It seems like any new initiative as this undergoes as kind of "ad experimentum" period. This is not unique. What should also be noted is that, politically, it would certainly be pyschologically helpful for people having trouble "buying in" in the episcopal front to at least know there is a normal safeguard in place. Whatever works to get us started! I wouldn't be too concerned by this aspect. In fact, typically I've often heard ad experimentum periods of 5 years; I'm pleased it is only 3, and would be more pleased for an even shorter period of time because it would mean it's that much more likely to come under the pontificate of Benedict.]