Ite Missa Est: The Traditional Latin Mass in England and Wales, 2015–2023

We investigate the availability of the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) using data from the Catholic Church in England and Wales from 2015 and 2023. During this time, the traditionalist Catholic community was hit by three shocks: (1) the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, (2) restrictions imposed by Pope Francis in 2021, and (3) further restrictions in 2023. Our study reveals that the TLM was experiencing steady growth before the pandemic, with a decline during COVID-19 and then a rebound period, followed by a substantial decrease in availability after Pope Francis’s restrictions. The research also highlights differences in the supply of TLMs between dioceses led by bishops elevated by various popes. Our analysis provides the first empirical study of the supply of the TLM, shedding light on a consequential development within the Catholic Church and its traditionalist subculture.