The Big One: Pope rumored to be releasing Motu Proprio permission for Tridentine Rite celebration

Update: Jimmy Akin adds his timeframe prediction: "Given the sources such as Cardinal Zen and Archbishop Weisgerber (apparently) going on public record about it, I'm guessing that a release may lie in the quite near future."

The rumors AmP has been covering for about a year gained some serious traction today:

CWNews:

Pope Benedict XVI is preparing to release a motu proprio extending permission for priests to celebrate the traditional Latin Mass, Vatican sources have confirmed.

The new papal document-- for which a publication date has not yet been set-- would give all priests permission to celebrate the Mass of St. Pius V. This permission, a "universal indult," would replace the existing indult that dates back to 1988, when Ecclesia Dei authorized use of the Tridentine rite under more restricted conditions, requiring the permission of the local bishop.

CNS adds more:

Canadian Archbishop James Weisgerber of Winnipeg, Manitoba, told Catholic News Service Oct. 10 that Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, head of the Congregation for Clergy, had spoken briefly to Canadian bishops about the expected step.

"It sounded to me like it was a sort of concession somebody has made," the archbishop said.

Archbishop Weisgerber said the new indult was apparently motivated by a desire to bring comfort to older people who may miss the old rite. But in his archdiocese, he said, the few people asking for it are "young people who never experienced it."

St. Blogs' reactions:

• Diogenes reminds us that The London Times (the main source for these most recent rumors, albeit quoting this blog) often has "dreadful" Vatican coverage. Nevertheless, the motu proprio "is coming" he says (early/mid November is the usual time-frame being tossed around).
• Dom believes we'll hear about it around the time of the Pope's "apostolic exhortation for last year’s Synod on the Eucharist" (November). He has more helpful thoughts as well.
• Amy has much to say. To start: "And as for the developing story line that this is all about the Pope trying to appeal to "ultraconservatives - no."

This is especially interesting: Fr. Zuhlsdorf of WDTPRS comments on an alleged internal battle in the Roman Curia over the drafting of the motu proprio as covered in the Italian newspaper La Stampa.

"When some time ago Benedict XVI sent the draft of the "Motu Proprio" to the Congregation for Divine Worship, the "anti-liberalzing" party, with the tacit endorsement of the Prefect, Cardinal Arinze, rushed to work on attaching restrictive modifications (for example, the need to raise the number of those making the request from 30 to 100), and sought in the doing to bypass the Secretary [of the Congregation, Archbishop Malcolm] Ranjith; who, however, managed to attach to the document, which was supposed to go back to the Pope, a long series of notes and marginal comments in order to bring the text back to its original meaning. ..."

[Fr. Zuhsdorf adds his take.]

I don't have too much to add yet. It's still all rumors. When/if it comes up then I'll speak up.