No one would accuse Pope Saint John Paul II of being a traditionalist, but even he used Latin sometimes.
Pope Saint John Paul II lived most of his life as a Catholic prior to the liturgical reforms that followed the Second Vatican Council. So unlike many clergy today, he knew Latin well (among the roughly dozen languages he knew).
The precise context of the video below is unclear. However, the title says it is from 1982, and it appears to be a Mass celebrated in Saint Peter’s Basilica.
But in any case, it’s pretty cool seeing Saint John Paul II lead the congregation in singing the Lord’s Prayer in the traditional language of the Church!
Watch the video below:
As of this writing, the video generated over four million views and more than 2,600 comments.
In one comment, seminarian John Paul Sacedor, SJ, briefly told his vocation story.
"In 1995, St. John Paul II had his second and last visit in the Philippines. Months later, on his birthday (May 18), I was born. And so I was named after him. Additionally, I was told that my surname comes from the Latin word 'sacerdos' which means 'priest'. Now, I am on my way to pursue the path of priesthood! Please pray for me."
Another user said, " I am a Syrian Muslim and this video made me tear up. God Bless Saint John Paul II."
Someone else added, "What a beautiful voice of the pope. Now he sings in heaven."
Here's how to pray the 'Our Father' ('Pater Noster') in Latin:
Pater noster, qui es in caelis:
sanctificetur Nomen Tuum;
adveniat Regnum Tuum;
fiat voluntas Tua,
sicut in caelo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie;
et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris;
et ne nos inducas in tentationem;
sed libera nos a Malo.
Amen