VATICAN CITY, JUNE 28, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Representatives from various episcopal conferences got a sneak peek at the much-awaited letter on the Latin Mass.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, presided over a meeting "in which the content and spirit of the announced" document of the Holy Father were discussed, a Vatican communiqué reported.
The letter to be issued "motu proprio" (on one's own initiative) contains norms on the use of the missal promulgated by Pope John XXIII in 1962.
The Holy Father also arrived to greet those present at the meeting, spending nearly an hour in conversation with them, the Vatican reported.
The communiqué added: "The publication of the document -- which will be accompanied by an extensive personal letter from the Holy Father to individual bishops -- is expected within a few days, once the document itself has been sent to all the bishops with an indication of when it will come into effect."
ZE07062809 - 2007-06-28