Traditionalisten

Traditionalisten is a term used in German-speaking regions to describe people or groups that seek to preserve or restore long-standing cultural, social, or religious practices. The designation covers a broad spectrum, from cultural conservatives who defend traditional social norms to religious communities that aim to preserve historic rites, doctrines, and institutions. In religious contexts, especially within Catholic circles, traditionalists are those who prefer the liturgy and discipline associated with the pre–Second Vatican Council era. They often advocate the use of the Latin language in worship, traditional catechesis, and a cautious approach to ecclesial reform. Some traditionalists emphasize hierarchical authority and continuity with earlier church teaching, sometimes resisting ecumenism and certain reforms associated with modernity.

Historically, traditionalism as a general stance emerged from anti-revolutionary and neoclassical currents that valued continuity with the past. In the Catholic world, traditionalist currents gained visibility in the 19th and 20th centuries and have remained present as reform movements evolved. In the 21st century, papal measures restricting the Latin Mass have affected traditionalist communities and conversations around liturgical innovation.

Beliefs commonly linked to traditionalists include reverence for inherited institutions, skepticism toward rapid social change, and a preference for continuity in doctrine and practice. Critics argue that traditionalism can impede necessary reform or foster exclusion, while supporters see it as a bulwark against relativism and decay.