The Traditional Latin Mass (TLM), also called the Extraordinary Form or the Tridentine Mass, is the form of Mass codified by the Council of Trent in the 16th century and used by the Latin Rite of the Church until the liturgical reforms following the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s.
The TLM is celebrated primarily in Latin, with the priest facing the altar (ad orientem) for much of the Mass. It is characterized by a profound silence, rich ceremony, and a strong emphasis on the sacrificial nature of the Eucharist.
Pope Benedict XVI issued Summorum Pontificum in 2007, liberalizing access to the TLM. This decision was partially reversed by Pope Francis in Traditionis Custodes (2021), sparking an ongoing discussion in the Church about liturgical diversity and unity.
