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For comparison, the “Gradualia” collections were “similar to what J.S. Bach was doing in setting specific cantatas for specific Sundays,” said Will Dawes, the conductor of the Byrd-A-Thon, a complete performance of Byrd’s Latin church music that took place in Oxford in February.

However, he reiterated that the Latin Church does not have a formal diplomatic relationship with China, and therefore operates independently.

Catholic leaders have long resisted the idea of married clerics in the mainstream Latin Church, considering celibacy an essential element for devoted priests, and this week Pope Francis declined to approve the ordination of married men in the Amazon region.

“Priests in the Latin church are celibate because they act as representatives of Jesus Christ and that is the path that he chose,” says José Antonio Ureta, a Chilean author who recently wrote a book that calls on Catholics to resist Francis’ reforms.

The cardinal suggested that though some priests may experience relationships that result in children, this may not necessarily affect "the theme of priestly celibacy, which represents a precious gift for the Latin Church".