Abstract
The Apostolic Letter Desiderio desideravi of Pope Francis goes beyond the debate between the “Tridentine liturgy” and the liturgy after the reform of the Second Vatican Council because of its theological, liturgical and spiritual depth. A careful analysis of this document allows to conclude that the theology of the liturgy presented by Francis does not reduce the liturgy to its celebration only. In Francis’s understanding, the liturgy includes the work of creation itself and the salvific mission of Christ. Its celebration, as part of the sacramental economy, causes this mystery to be fulfilled in its participants, who live their lives in an ethical way resembling that of Jesus Christ (Christoformation). The preliminary premise of this article, that the liturgical theology of Francis is an expression of the liturgical theology of the Roman school, proves to be correct. The liturgy indeed includes the saving mystery (M), celebration (A), and life (V).