Jesuit Priest Thomas Reese Calls for Latin Mass to Disappear, Youth Attendance Barred

A prominent Jesuit priest urged leaders to let the old Latin Mass fade out and to keep young people away from it, igniting a fresh fight over faith and authority in the Catholic Church.

Story Snapshot

Fr. Thomas Reese called the traditional Latin Mass “unreformed” and said it should disappear over time.
Reese argued bishops should control where it is allowed and bar children and youth from attending.
Pope Francis’ 2021 decree already tightened rules on the pre-1962 rite and limited its use.
Traditionalists say keeping the old Mass is about fidelity and heritage, not rebellion.

What Fr. Thomas Reese Said And Why It Matters

Fr. Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest and longtime commentator, urged the Church to restrict the traditional Latin Mass further. He said bishops should regain clear control over it in their dioceses and that the “unreformed” rite should disappear over time. He also said children and young people should not be allowed to attend those liturgies. Those remarks go far beyond normal debate and drew a swift reaction from Catholics who favor the older rite.

Reese’s comments land in a Church still adjusting to major 2021 changes. In that year, Pope Francis issued a decree that restricted use of the 1962 Roman Missal, the form of Mass from before the Second Vatican Council. The decree said priests need permission, pushed most celebrations out of parishes, and aimed to reduce division. It also insisted that the newer form of the Mass is the standard in the Roman Rite worldwide.

How Vatican Policy Set The Stage

Church leaders have said the 2021 rules sought unity and better follow-through on the council’s reforms. Supporters say some groups used the old rite to reject the council, so tighter rules were needed to protect unity. The rules also gave bishops the lead role and drew firm lines around where the older Mass could be used. Later guidance even barred some sacraments in the older form, which narrowed its reach more.

Those steps reshaped parish life. Many places moved the old rite to non-parish sites. Priests who wanted to celebrate it had to seek approval. Some analysts argued the policy widened tensions instead of healing them. Others said the shift was needed to stop parallel communities from forming. Reese’s call to exclude youth goes further than the decree and raises new questions about religious freedom inside the Church.

Why Many Catholics Push Back

Traditionalist Catholics say they are not rebels. They say the older rite is part of the Church’s heritage and that worshippers include many young families. They argue that keeping the old Mass is an act of fidelity, not division. A recent podcast from the Society of Saint Pius X framed the question around limits on papal power and the duty to preserve tradition. The host said holding to the older Mass is faithful, not defiant.

NEWS – Former Editor-in-Chief of the Jesuit approved "America Magazine" and now senior analyst at Religion News Service, Fr Thomas Reese SJ, says he “hates” the Traditional Latin Mass referring to it as a “zombie” because “we thought it was dead, but it keeps coming back”.

Fr… https://t.co/dryLkQZOPU pic.twitter.com/ayUHUtmWlA

— Niwa Limbu (@NiwaLimbu1988) August 26, 2026

Leaders tied to the Latin Mass Society stress preservation of the ancient liturgy and related devotions. They describe a decades-long effort to protect a rite that shaped Catholic life for centuries. They say the 1962 Missal draws people through beauty, reverence, and silence. They also say bans on youth attendance miss a key fact: many newcomers are young adults seeking roots and meaning in a noisy world.

What This Fight Reveals About Authority And Trust

This clash is about more than language in worship. It touches core questions of authority, conscience, and community. Catholics who back the newer Mass want unity and clear teaching. Catholics who love the older Mass want continuity and room for local judgment. Both sides say they seek the good of souls. Reese’s hard line shines a light on a deeper worry seen across America: top-down rules that ignore people on the ground can fuel distrust in leaders and systems.

What To Watch Next

Watch whether bishops tighten permits for the older Mass or keep local access in place. Track whether Rome issues more guidance on youth attendance. Look for data on who attends the older rite and why. Also watch if parishes find ways to improve the newer Mass with reverence and sacred music to meet similar desires. If leaders engage people rather than dismiss them, the Church could cool tensions instead of stoking them.