Diane Montagna & 'Traditionalists' Lied about Pope Francis

Unpacking the Controversy Surrounding Traditionis Custodes: A Critical Examination of Diane Montagna’s Claims

As of 12:24 AM EDT on Friday, July 4, 2025, the Catholic world continues to grapple with the fallout from Pope Francis’s 2021 apostolic letter Traditionis Custodes, which imposed significant restrictions on the use of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass (EF). Recent posts on X by veteran Vatican journalist Edward Pentin (https://x.com/EdwardPentin/status/1940738034913186049 and https://x.com/EdwardPentin/status/1940740047449260066) have reignited debates about the decision-making process behind this document, particularly in light of alleged leaked Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) documents and a subsequent report by Diane Montagna. Montagna’s article, published on her Substack on July 1, 2025, alleges that Traditionis Custodes disregarded a 2020 survey of bishops that highlighted the positive impact of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass and suggests that Pope Francis misrepresented the survey’s findings. However, a closer look at the statements from Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, as reported by Pentin, reveals that Montagna’s narrative is flawed. Far from lying, Pope Francis’s actions appear consistent with a complex decision-making process that incorporated diverse inputs, contrary to Montagna’s assertions. In fact, it is Montagna who has misrepresented the situation, and her claims deserve scrutiny. She lied, and those so-called traditionalists who slander the late Pope Francis, calling him a liar on social media. The Context of Traditionis Custodes and the 2020 Survey Traditionis Custodes, issued motu proprio on July 16, 2021, reversed the liberalizing policies of Pope Benedict XVI’s Summorum Pontificum (2007), which had allowed broader use of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. The decision followed a 2020 survey of bishops conducted by the CDF to assess the implementation of Summorum Pontificum. According to Wikipedia’s entry on Traditionis Custodes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditionis_custodes, accessed July 4, 2025), the results of this survey were not made public, fueling speculation. Montagna’s article (https://dianemontagna.substack.com, July 1, 2025) claims to have uncovered a “previously undisclosed” CDF overall assessment, alleging that it showed widespread support for the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, including its role in attracting younger Catholics and restoring peace within communities. She argues that *Traditionis Custodes* “disregarded and withheld” these findings, implying deliberate deception by Pope Francis. Matteo Bruni’s Response: A Window into the Process On July 3, 2025, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni addressed questions about the leaked CDF documents during a press conference, as detailed in Pentin’s posts. In his initial statement (https://x.com/EdwardPentin/status/1940738034913186049), Bruni noted that while he would not confirm the authenticity of the leaked texts, they represented only a “very partial and incomplete” picture of the decision-making process leading to Traditionis Custodes. He emphasized that “additional documentation” and “confidential reports” from further consultations were also considered by the CDF. In a fuller response quoted by Pentin (https://x.com/EdwardPentin/status/1940740047449260066), Bruni reiterated that the leaked documents were just one part of a broader process, stating, “In fact, additional documentation, other confidential reports—also the result of further consultations—were later added to the cited consultation and were received by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.” This clarification is critical. Bruni’s comments suggest that the decision to restrict the Extraordinary Form was not based solely on the 2020 survey but on a more comprehensive review that included subsequent inputs. This undermines Montagna’s assertion that the CDF’s overall assessment was the definitive basis for Traditionis Custodes and that its positive findings were ignored. Instead, it indicates that Pope Francis and the CDF weighed multiple factors, some of which may not align with the leaked documents’ narrative.

Refuting Montagna’s Claims Montagna’s central accusation is that Traditionis Custodes misrepresented the 2020 survey by suppressing its supportive findings about the Extraordinary Form. However, Bruni’s refusal to confirm the authenticity of the leaked texts casts doubt on their reliability as a complete representation of the survey data. Moreover, his mention of “additional documentation” and “further consultations” suggests that the final decision incorporated evidence or perspectives beyond the initial survey—evidence that Montagna does not address. Her claim that the document “turned a blind eye” to the Extraordinary Form’s positive impact relies on the assumption that the leaked CDF assessment was the sole or primary basis for the apostolic letter, an assumption Bruni’s statements directly challenge. Furthermore, Montagna’s narrative hinges on the idea that Pope Francis acted dishonestly by withholding the survey’s alleged support for the Extraordinary Form. Yet, Bruni’s insistence that the process was multifaceted indicates transparency about the complexity of the decision, not a cover-up. Pope Francis has not publicly commented on the survey’s details, and his silence does not equate to deceit—especially when the Vatican has acknowledged the existence of additional data. Montagna’s leap to accuse the Pope of lying lacks substantiation and ignores the possibility that the “additional documentation” may have presented compelling reasons to restrict the Extraordinary Form, such as theological or pastoral concerns raised by some bishops. You can read more of our analysis here: Sacerdotus: Critical Analysis of Diane Montagna's Article and Claims Regarding Traditionis Custodes. The Real Misrepresentation Ironically, it is Montagna who appears to have misrepresented the situation and misled her readers, who did not bother to critically think and vet her content. By presenting the leaked CDF assessment as the definitive account of the 2020 survey and suggesting it was the sole basis for Traditionis Custodes, she oversimplifies a process that Bruni describes as involving multiple layers of consultation. Her article fails to account for the “confidential reports” and “further consultations” mentioned by the Vatican spokesman, which could have shifted the balance of evidence. This selective framing risks misleading readers into believing that Pope Francis acted arbitrarily or dishonestly, a charge that the available evidence does not support. Defending the Pope, Questioning the Narrative The accusations that Pope Francis lied about Traditionis Custodes and the 2020 survey are unfounded based on the current record. Matteo Bruni’s statements, as reported by Edward Pentin, reveal a decision-making process that was broader and more nuanced than Montagna suggests. Rather than a deliberate suppression of positive Extraordinary Form data, the Vatican’s actions reflect a considered response to a range of inputs, some of which remain confidential. It is Diane Montagna who has misrepresented the situation by cherry-picking the leaked documents and ignoring the fuller context provided by the Holy See. As Catholics and observers continue to debate the merits of Traditionis Custodes, let us base our judgments on verified information rather than premature accusations. The truth, it seems, is more complex than Montagna’s narrative allows—and Pope Francis deserves the benefit of that complexity. --- References: - Pentin, Edward. (2025, July 3). X Post. https://x.com/EdwardPentin/status/1940738034913186049 - Pentin, Edward. (2025, July 3). X Post. https://x.com/EdwardPentin/status/1940740047449260066 - Montagna, Diane. (2025, July 1). EXCLUSIVE: Official Vatican Report Exposes Major Cracks in Foundation of Traditionis Custodes. https://dianemontagna.substack.com - Traditionis custodes - Wikipedia. (2025, July 3). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditionis_custodes