They are explaining "the necessity of conversion, the nature of the Mass", and "the purity of heart the Scriptures require of us to receive Holy Communion".

The cardinal wrote this in a homily written for a Mass in the extraordinary form in Rome last week.

Before next October, Catholics have to work to build a consensus "out of the present divisions", he wrote.

"Pastoral practice and teachings can only be change by consensus," he noted.

"Doctrine does develop, we understand truth more deeply, but there are no doctrinal back-flips in Catholic history," the cardinal wrote.

"The apostolic tradition announced first by Christ and founded in the Scriptures is the touchstone for truth and genuine pastoral practice."

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