Pope Leon XIV urges liturgical renewal while banning unauthorized changes

Pope Leon XIV addressed thousands of faithful gathered at St. Peter's Square on 27 May 2026, continuing his teaching series on Vatican II. He described the liturgy as a “motor of evangelisation” that must be renewed in fidelity to tradition, citing the Council’s Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium and the magisterium of Pope Pius XII.

Leon XIV stressed that no one may add, remove, or alter any liturgical element “on their own initiative,” urging priests and liturgical planners to respect the immutable parts of the rite while allowing organic development. He recalled the recent Jubilee, which attracted over 33 million pilgrims, and called for a renewed commitment to bring believers into fuller participation without compromising ecclesial communion.