Ashley Noronha joined John Morales on Morning Air to discuss Pope Leo XIV’s most recent General Audience on May 27, as the Holy Father continued his reflection on the documents of the Second Vatican Council and the nature of the Church’s liturgical life.

Drawing from the Church’s liturgical history, Pope Leo emphasized that authentic tradition is not something frozen in time. Instead, it is a living reality that develops and grows while remaining faithful to its divine source. Echoing the teaching of Venerable Pope Pius XII in Mediator Dei, the Holy Father described the Church as a living organism that matures, adapts, and responds to the needs and circumstances of each age without losing her identity.

At the center of that living reality is the sacred liturgy. Pope Leo described the liturgy as the heartbeat of the Church’s life, the privileged place where Christ encounters His Bride and where the faithful receive the grace necessary to carry out the Church’s mission in the world. Far more than a collection of rituals or ceremonies, the liturgy is a living participation in the mystery of salvation.

The Pope reinforced this point by recalling the teachings of two of his predecessors. He referenced Pope St. John Paul II, who taught that the Church not only acts through the liturgy but also expresses her very identity through it. The Church lives from the liturgy and draws from it the strength needed for her mission. Pope Leo also pointed to Pope Benedict XVI’s warning against viewing tradition and progress as opposing forces. Authentic tradition, he explained, is like a river flowing from a single source. Though it moves through history and encounters new circumstances, it remains connected to its origin.

This understanding helps explain how the Church approaches liturgical development. Pope Leo noted that certain elements of the liturgy are immutable because they belong to the permanent and essential nature of divine worship. Other elements, however, may be adapted when they no longer communicate the inner nature of the liturgy as clearly as they once did. Such changes are never made arbitrarily or according to personal preference. Rather, they must arise organically from the Church’s existing tradition and be preceded by careful theological, historical, and pastoral study.

The Holy Father concluded by addressing priests directly. He encouraged them to celebrate the sacred mysteries with humility, fidelity, and reverence, recognizing the profound responsibility entrusted to them. Through their faithful celebration of the liturgy, priests help lead the faithful into a deeper encounter with Christ and strengthen the Church in her mission to proclaim the Gospel to the world.