(LifeSiteNews) — Bishop Athanasius Schneider has decried the suppression of Traditional Latin Masses (TLM) around the world as an “injustice” and called upon Pope Leo XIV to “free” the TLM.

In a Sunday interview with the bishop, Christopher Wendt of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Fatima brought up the TLM crackdown prompted by Pope Francis’ document Traditionis Custodes, which triggered a cascade of TLM closures continuing even into the papacy of Leo XIV. 

“It is an injustice. We must publicly say this,” said Bishop Schneider, the auxiliary of the Diocese of Astana in Kazakhstan. He pointed out that the TLM suppression is particularly unjust during a time when, as under Francis, the top levels of the Church declare the importance of listening to all the lay faithful and accepting their “proposals and desires,” as he noted.

“But only one category is punished, and marginalized. These are the faithful priests who only wish to pray and to celebrate Mass, to assist Mass, and it was done during… almost a millennium, and by the saints,” he said. 

When asked what the Holy Father should do in response, Bishop Schneider urged him to “protect” his “daughters and sons” who are being “persecuted” by the bishops throttling access to the TLM, such as in the Archdiocese of Detroit, where as of July 1, TLMs were banned in all of its 28 parish locations and delegated to a mere four locations.

“This is unbearable. It is a great injustice towards good faithful who only desire to pray as did their forefathers,” lamented Bishop Schneider. “Nothing more. Who love the pope, who love their bishop.”

The prelate declared that it is “urgent” for the pope to protect the faithful who are being treated as “second class” Catholics and called upon the faithful to pray for Pope Leo “that he may recognize this injustice” and “have the courage” to free the Latin Mass through an act of his magisterium.

Bishop Schneider pointed out that Pope Pius V had “solemnly canonized” the Traditional Latin Mass in his bull Quo Primum, which declared in an “extraordinary” way that “no one can be forbidden, even in future,” to offer the Tridentine Mass. 

Quo Primum ordains that, “in perpetuity,” the Missal of the Tridentine Mass “is hereafter to be followed absolutely, without any scruple of conscience or fear of incurring any penalty, judgment, or censure, and may freely and lawfully be used” and that “this present document cannot be revoked or modified, but remains always valid and retains its full force.”

Bishop Schneider affirmed that “every Catholic priest and every Catholic ha(s) the right to celebrate or to assist” at this rite and to hand it on.

The Astana bishop expressed hope that Pope Leo XIV stop the “persecution” of the TLM, something Catholics have implored him to do in a letter campaign. Leo XIV has not yet responded or given any indication he will recognize the authority of Quo Primum by declaring Traditionis Custodes invalid. Instead, by granting a TLM in Texas a two-year extension, he appears to be recognizing the dictates of Traditionis Custodes.

Wendt continued on to ask if Bishop Schneider thought it was fair to “evaluate” Leo XIV by his clerical appointments, something he began to participate in as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.

The bishop said that by appointing bishops “who are promoting confusion and ambiguities or even errors which were known before the appointment,” that is, “dubious candidates, ambiguous candidates or openly heterodox candidates,” the pope is “opening the door” to let “wolves” enter into the flock.

Orthodox Catholics and clergy such as Bishop Joseph Strickland have already raised concerns about the doctrinal fidelity of clerical appointments of Leo XIV, including for example his appointment of Bishop Shane Mackinlay, who has publicly expressed support for the possibility of “ordaining” women to the diaconate, as archbishop of Brisbane.

Bishop Schneider believes God will hold every pope to account “about his appointments.”

“This is serious,” he added.