So anxious is the Pope that there should be no idea of superiority on the part of the Latins, that he draws up elaborate rules of precedence between the clergy of both rites in public functions. In this there is to be no question of the rite either follows, but only of their dignity in their own rite; and among those of equal rank, precedence is to go by date of ordination.[1]
It is sometimes said that all the Roman legislation in favour of the Eastern rites is not sincere, that it is really only a trap to attract the schismatics, and make them believe that Rome does not want to destroy their rites.
At any rate, in the case of these Italo-Greeks, there can be no such idea. They were absolutely helpless in the midst of a solidly Latin population. They had not even their own bishops. The Pope had only to let things alone, and they would all have turned Latin centuries ago, automatically. But the Pope did not want this. It is a childish idea that the mighty Roman rite could be jealous of any other. Benedict XIV, and many other Popes, had a genuine desire that the other ancient rites of the Church should not die out; so, at considerable trouble to themselves, by constant severe legislation, they kept them alive; in some cases, as we shall see, almost in spite of the people of these rites themselves.
On December 24, 1743, Benedict XIV published the decree Demandatam cælitus.[2] This is addressed to the Melkite Patriarch of Antioch, Cyril VI,[3] and the bishops of his Patriarchate. In this he answers various questions that had arisen regarding rites and customs of the Melkites, always with the idea of preserving their rite in its purity, of restoring genuine Byzantine practices, abolishing later abuses, especially insisting on uniformity within each rite, and forbidding either a mixture of rites or attempts to persuade the faithful of one rite to leave it for another. "Concerning rites and customs of the Greek Church in general, we decree in the first place that no one, whatever his rank may be, even Patriarchal or episcopal, may innovate or introduce anything that diminishes their complete and exact observance."[4] But bishops may allow harmless practices within the limits of what is essential to the rite. Certain obvious abuses and superstitious ideas are forbidden, as, for instance, the absurd idea that, if a priest uses vestments already used by someone else that day, he thereby breaks his fast.[5] The Pope forbids Maronites to mix themselves in the affairs of Melkites, or to try to persuade
