Pope Benedict launches Latin academy at Vatican

It's a pity that the knowledge of Latin is bound up with the old-rite of Mass in many people's minds. I've been to the new-rite in Latin many times, and it's important to note that there can be a unifying value to having some parts in Latin where there is a congregation with more than one mother-tongue, during Easter and on major feasts my congregation sings the Lord's Prayer in Latin (for example).

It's also impossible to read about the history of the Church to a high level without a good knowledge of Latin as the entire theological and philosophical tradition was in Latin until recently.

Interestingly I was chatting to a Capuchin Friar recently (one who wouldn't dream of using Latin in the liturgy) - he trained in Rome 'back in the day' and he explained how all of the lectures were in Latin, but that there was an entire system of repetitors who would give a follow-up in the various vernaculars; these days all of the lectures are in Italian, but the system of repetitors has vanished and so there's a seminarians' black-market in translated lecture notes to fill the gap in the system.

Thanks for that insight.

There is a regular Latin Mass at a small church not far from here. It's been so long since I attended Mass in Latin that I should check it out again. A couple of my kids have been curious about it so I guess I'll drag them along.

Since it is a dead language, its meaning doesn't change thru colloquial usage, so when explaining points of doctrine it is more precise. Although I sometiimes wonder why our doctrine should be so complex. But that's another discussion. Good for Benedict.