Pope Benedict, in a decree issued today, authorised wider use of the old Latin Mass and told the world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics that his nod to Church traditionalists was nothing to be afraid of.
In a letter to bishops, the German-born Pontiff rejected criticism within the Church that his long-awaited move could split Catholics and roll back the clock on reforms introduced in the 1960s, and which are opposed by many traditionalists.
Pope Benedict
The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) replaced Latin with local languages in the liturgy, reached out to other religions and struck out texts that Jews found particularly offensive.
"This fear is unfounded," the Pope wrote. "What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be, all of a sudden, entirely forbidden or even considered harmful."
Catholics around the world will have the Pope's blessing to ask local priests to celebrate Mass in Latin or get baptised or married according to the old rite. Few are expected to want to return to the very formal rite in a language they do not speak.
If the priest refuses, they can appeal to their bishop who, the Pope said, "is strongly requested to satisfy their wishes". If still unsuccessful, they can go all the way to the Vatican.
Previously, bishops could authorise or deny use of the old Latin mass in their dioceses. Some did while others refused.
The Pope said he wants reconciliation with traditionalists, some of whom were so angered by the 1960s reforms that they broke from Rome, causing the first schism of modern times.
The traditionalists' major flag-bearer is the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), founded by the late French archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and which claims about one million members. The Vatican estimates their following at about 600,000.
"Looking back over the past, to the divisions ... not enough was done by the Church's leaders to maintain or regain reconciliation or unity," the Pope said.
The decree made no change in the 1962 missal - the main prayer book for the old Latin rite -- which includes prayers on Good Friday for the conversion of the Jews.
Abraham Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a US-based Jewish civil rights group, called the language "insensitive ... insulting" and expressed fears the decree could harm historic reconciliation.
The Second Vatican Council repudiated the concept of collective Jewish guilt for Christ's death, highlighted the Jewish roots of Christianity and urged good relations with Jews. Relations improved further under Benedict's predecessor, the late Pope John Paul II.
Benedict, in his letter, also chastised some Catholics for taking the reforms of the Second Vatican Council too far. But he also warned traditionalist priests that they could not refuse to celebrate mass according to the 1970 missal now in use.