Vatican tightens screws on conservatives over traditional Latin Mass

FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis leaves after holding an ecumenical prayer with migrants at the Parish Church of the Holy Cross, in Nicosia, Cyprus, December 3, 2021. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -The Vatican on Saturday warned conservative Roman Catholics who have balked at Pope Francis' decision to restrict the old traditionalist Latin Mass that they were sowing division and engaging in "sterile polemics".

The Vatican department overseeing sacraments and liturgy issued a directive in response to bishops' requests for clarification following a document in July in which Francis overturned decisions by his two predecessors and tightened access to the Mass.