Text of pope’s letter to bishops on celebration of Mass

Here is the Vatican’s official English translation of the letter Pope Francis sent July 16 to the world’s bishops explaining his decision to restore some limits on the celebration of the Latin-rite Mass according to the pre-Vatican II Missal.

Appealing to need for unity, pope restores limits on pre-Vatican II Mass

Saying he was acting for the good of the unity of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has restored limits on the celebration of the Mass according to the Roman Missal in use before the Second Vatican Council, overturning or severely restricting permissions St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI had given to celebrate the so-called Tridentine-rite Mass.