Will this filial petition requesting the Holy Father to publicly celebrate a traditional (1962) Latin Mass be successful?

Screen shot showing Ottavio Demasi's online petition

An online petition has been created requesting Pope Benedict XVI to publicly celebrate Mass in the Extraordinary Form -- there is speculation that the Holy Father has occasionally celebrated the old Rite Mass in private since his election in 2005. The man behind this venture is a Brazilian attorney called Ottavio Demasi, and it has been publicised on the Eponymous Flower blog, as well as on Richard Collins’ Linen on the Hedgerow blog. Since it was launched in early July the petition has already received over 1,000 signatures.

Unrelated to the petition, but very much linked the Supreme Pontiff and the traditional Roman Mass, it seems that a Year of Faith pilgrimage to Rome in thanksgiving for Summorum Pontificum has been organised by various associations of the faithful, such as Una Voce. The pilgrimage will conclude on Saturday 3 November, and already some excited commentators are hoping that the Pope might either preside at the closing Mass or address the pilgrims before they leave. The highly reliable 'Vatican Insider', Andrea Tornielli, appears to have lent some credence to the latter hope.

There is, of course, an ancient and noble custom of petitioning the Holy See with the intention of seeking various favours and dispensations from the Successor of St Peter. In fact the Catholic Encyclopedia (1911) gives specific instructions to the faithful on how best to go about petitioning the Pope. Although these guidelines or suggestions may seem archaic in today's new media world, one would assume that those attached to traditional Catholicism would want to do things properly, as well as with all the respect due to the Papacy.

At the time when the above mentioned version of the Catholic Encyclopedia was written, it was apparently advisable to send requests to the Holy See on: “…a double sheet of white paper of the foolscap or large quarto size; and the text should pass, if its length renders this necessary, from the first to the second page, and so on, as in a printed book, no intermediate page being left blank.” Noting that “the official languages of the Curia are still Latin, Italian, and French”, the Catholic Encyclopedia also assured its readers that
“…documents in English, German, Spanish, and Portuguese are now authorized [sic] (cf. Const. "Sapienti Consilio", Normæ peculiares, c. vi., n. 5.)”.

In 1911, it was still fitting, according the Encyclopedia: “…that petitions sent by episcopal curiae and by ecclesiastics in general, and those that have reference to the sacraments, should be written in the Church's official language, Latin.” I wonder whether this is still the case? Even if it isn’t, and despite the fact that Ottavio Demasi isn't what we would properly term an 'ecclesiastic', it would be good if the relevant document could be translated into the Church’s universal (catholic) language -- especially seeing it is being sent as a request to the Holy Father asking him to publicly celebrate the traditional Latin Mass!

The Catholic Encyclopedia also advised that any petitions to the Holy See: “should be addressed to the pope himself, and should therefore begin with the words 'Beatissime Pater' (Most Holy Father). The petitioner should then give his full name, place of residence, and diocese … Next should follow a clear and concise statement of the favour desired, the reasons for the petition, and all the information necessary to enable the Holy See to arrive at its decision.”

I wonder whether things have changed that much since the early twentieth century, when the Catholic Encyclopedia published its article on petitioning the Pope? Needless to say, any petition to the Holy Father should be respectful, and should also speak to the Pope’s paternal and pastoral heart -- Demasi's request certainly appears to fulfil these criteria.

Our Lord said that if we ask our Heavenly Father for bread, He would not give us a stone (cf Mt 7:9-11) – in the same way, the Supreme Pontiff is a man who has been called to feed Christ’s flock (cf Jn 21:15-19), to give them what they ask for, if it is good for them. When his lambs ask him for what is holy and pure, I am sure the Holy Father will respond with what is best for the whole Church. With that in mind, and especially after the publication of Summorum Pontificum, what could be better for the Church than to see her Universal Shepherd publicly celebrating all her liturgical rites and forms? 

To sign the petition, please click here.