[Mrs. Don-o]

Re-reading Lawler's article, I don't think he's making the absurd claim that Pope Francis is pleading for a better celebration of the Novus Ordo, along lines that would be acceptable or even recognizable by Pius XII or Benedict XVI.

Lawler says Pope Francis' latest statement is "confusing" and that he is "is notoriously unsympathetic to calls for the 'reform of the reform.'"

Does that really sound, to you, like a defense of Pope Francis?

Lawler is noting that, despite Pope Francis' "NewChurch/Sc***theTradition" orientation, he's constrained to be ambiguous because he knows he's out of step with his holy predecessors, and thus his huffy "magisterial" tone is a cover for internal incoherence.

Sad. We really do need a new pope..

[DuncanWaring]

We still have a pope.

His name is Benedict.

[faithhopecharity]

i very much think a “new improved” pope could be a great blessing

[livius]

Well, that’s true; I read an article just the other day about Francis’ tactic of ambiguity, so his strategy is obviously being acknowledged by commentators who at one time would have covered for Francis by forcing an orthodox interpretation on his ambiguous words.