Das Missale Romanum in friaulischer Sprache: die peinliche Angelegenheit einer Genehmigung, die weiter auf sich warten lässt

Over the last three centuries, Friulian has had an almost continuous use in the religious sphere, despite critical moments such as the twenty-year fascist period. Alongside catechesis, preaching, personal and community prayer and devotional singing, its more specifically liturgical use has also expanded since the Second Vatican Council. The awakening of the cultural and linguistic consciousness of the Friulian minority, which had already taken place after World War II, experienced a moment of particular fervour after the 1976 earthquake. The tragic events of that year also stimulated ecclesial reflection on local languages in liturgical worship. However, this practice is now in danger of suffering a serious setback, since the bishops of the Italian Episcopal Conference, gathered in Assisi for the 78th extraordinary general assembly, in the vote held on 15 November 2023 failed to reach the quorum necessary to approve the Friulian translation of the Roman Missal; consequently, Friulian Catholics are still denied the right to use their own language at all times during liturgical celebrations. The full liturgical use of Friulian language is therefore still in a stalemate; it is feared that the slowness of the procedures could definitively undermine a process that is important not only for Friulian Catholics, but for the entire minority language community.