VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- Pope John Paul II has named Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, the prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, to head the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei.

    The Ecclesia Dei commission was established under the terms of the Pope's motu proprio Ecclesia Dei, issued in July 1988, which called for a "broad and generous" provision of permission for priests to celebrate Mass according to the Tridentine-rite liturgy. For the hundreds of thousands of Catholics who prefer the traditional liturgy-- most of them living in France, Germany, the United States, and Australia-- the commission has supervised the use of the "indult" which allows the celebration of the traditional Mass. The commission has frequently been caught up in disputes between traditionalist Catholics and diocesan bishops who are reluctant to allow the indult Mass.

    With the April 13 appointment, Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos replaces Cardinal Angelo Felici, who has presided over the Ecclesia Dei commission since 1995. Cardinal Felici, who is 81, is retiring.