You do have to keep in mind that there is "invitation" and there is INVITATION, "encourage" and "ENCOURAGE." Church-speak has inflections and tones and bishops are for the most part not tone-deaf. The words don't matter very much, what matters is whether bishops think Benedict XVI really means it or not.
And that will be signaled by deeds, not words. He has made two or three highly eloquent moves in the Curia--demoting the one guy (I forget his name and position) to an embassy in Jordan or somewhere in Nowheresville instead of promoting him to what he thought was his rightful next post in the Curia. In other words, he turfed him out of the Curia. Then he brought in the new guy for the Congregation for Divine Worship--a pro-Latin, pro-Tridentine character. That speaks volumes more than the words in this statement alone. What's crucial now is to see what happens to Sodano who seems to have tried to lead a palace revolution and failed.
The statement on which this thread's responses comment is important because it puts the bishops of the world on notice. They can't say they don't know what Benedict wants them to do. His actions will tell them whether there will be any consequences for not doing it.
Not that Benedict will sack those who don't get with the program. No, it sends signals to their fellow bishops about what Benedict wants and strengthens their hands in the national conferences of bishops where these things get thrashed out. Up to now the efforts by the reform of the reform reformers have been stymied in the NCCB because the block of resisters is about half to two/thirds of the NCCB. But of that half to two-thirds, some are hard core resisters who will never change their tune, others are winnable. All that has to happen is for the halfhearted resisters to see the handwriting on the wall and fold their cards.
Will it happen? I won't hold my breath. But is it impossible? No. So take heart, be en-couraged, and pray.
Abp Michael Fitzgerald whom everyone expected to get a red hat is now sojourning in the desert. Abp. Patabendige Don from Sri Lanka is now the Secretary for Divine Worship who has a strong affinity for TLM. (Papa transferred the former secretary Sorrentino, who was problematic, out of this position to Assisi where he is under the watchful eye of Cdl. Ruini).
I agree.