Vatican reduces Latin’s dominance, embraces multilingual official documents
The Vatican has officially reduced Latin’s role as the primary language of the Roman Curia. New regulations now permit the use of other languages for official documents, including English to Spanish and Spanish to English translations. This marks a significant shift in the Church’s long-standing tradition. Latin has been the dominant language of the Catholic Church for centuries, but its central role has been fading for decades. Masses around the world are now routinely held in local languages rather than Latin. Papal encyclicals still appear in Latin, though modern terms are translated into the ancient tongue. Yet even legal texts from the Vatican no longer require publication in Latin within the official gazette. The latest reforms expand the use of other languages alongside Latin for formal communications. Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S. pontiff, is fluent in English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin. While he has written his encyclicals primarily in Latin, his recent changes allow more flexibility. Official Vatican statements and papal addresses now commonly appear in English, Italian, Spanish, French, and occasionally German or Polish. The new rules reflect a broader trend of modernisation within the Church. Latin remains part of Vatican tradition but no longer holds exclusive status. Official documents and communications will increasingly appear in multiple languages, including English to Spanish and Spanish to English translations.
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