The archbishop-elect of Westminster, Mons. Richard Moth, has indicated that he does not envision, at least for now, a significant expansion of the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass in the most influential archdiocese of England and Wales. He stated this during his first press conference after his appointment was officially confirmed, as reported by The Catholic Herald.
Read also: England: Léon XIV appoints the new archbishop of Westminster
The appearance took place on Friday at midday at the Archbishop’s House in London and was the first opportunity for journalists to question the prelate since the Holy See announced his transfer from the diocese of Arundel and Brighton to the see of Westminster, considered the most relevant in British Catholicism.
A prudent approach “based on needs”
When asked specifically about the possibility of a policy change regarding traditional liturgy, Mons. Moth avoided any gesture of rupture with the framework established after the motu proprio Traditionis custodes. He explained that, in his diocese of origin, the number of priests who celebrate according to the ancient rite is small and that the existing provision responded solely to real pastoral needs.
“The number of celebrations was what we needed in the diocese,” he stated, adding that, after the publication of the new Vatican norms, he acted as requested: he wrote to the Holy See, explained the specific situation, and requested permission for that provision to continue. That permission, he emphasized, was granted.
These statements place the archbishop-elect clearly within the current approach promoted from Rome, in which bishops must strictly regulate celebrations of the pre-conciliar liturgy and, in certain cases, request express authorization for its continuation.
No ideological gestures or premature promises
Mons. Moth avoided presenting himself as a reference or supporter of traditional liturgy, describing it rather as a pastoral reality among others. He also emphasized that it would be premature to commit to specific policies in an archdiocese that he does not yet know in depth.
“I am completely new here, I have a lot to learn and I have not yet settled in,” he noted. Any future decision —he added— must start from knowledge of the people and the real situation, through dialogue and pastoral discernment. In a relaxed tone, he hinted at his style by stating that, as a horse riding enthusiast, he knows that “you should never rush headlong into an obstacle.”
Continuity and control in a key see
At 67 years old, Richard Moth succeeds Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who has been at the helm of Westminster since 2009 and is already of retirement age. His appointment makes him the principal Catholic figure in the public life of England and Wales, in a see especially watched by both Rome and the media and the episcopate.
As highlighted by The Catholic Herald, during his time in Arundel and Brighton he was seen by some priests as a bishop who allowed space and avoided unnecessary confrontations regarding the Traditional Mass. However, in his public appearance he rejected any narrative of silent resistance, instead emphasizing obedience, administrative processes, and pastoral proportionality.