Edward Pentin

To put an end once and for all to the malicious speculation coming from people seeking to stir up trouble and draw attention to themselves, including Vatican officials, here are the letters exchanged between the organisers of the Summorum Pontificum Pilgrimage and the Secretariat of State in their efforts to organise the 2026 pilgrimage. This was the request made directly to Pope Leo, through a letter written by Father Claude Barte, in December 2025: “For fifteen years, our Pilgrimage has brought to Rome, to the Tomb of the Apostle and to his Successor, pilgrims representing all the priests and faithful throughout the world who are attached to the traditional liturgy. Every year, with the exception of 2023 and 2024, we have been granted the grace of celebrating the traditional Holy Mass in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. In 2025, with Your Holiness’s permission, we were able to resume this pious custom. I therefore turn once again to Your Holiness to ask you graciously to renew, with paternal care, the authorisation granted last year and those previously granted by Pope Francis.” With no answer received, after 6 months, the request was renewed on June 12th, to the Secretariat to State. On August 7th, came the Secretariat of State’s reply: From the Vatican, 7 August 2026 No. 55.786 Reverend Father, In your letter of 12 June, you submitted a request to celebrate a Mass in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, according to the usus antiquior, during the international pilgrimage Ad Petri Sedem.We regret to inform you that, for this year, we cannot grant your request.Please accept, Reverend Father, the assurance of my devoted esteem. Paolo Rudelli Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State Next came Father Barthe’s request that, despite being unable to celebrate Mass there, the pilgrims might be allowed to enter and pray in St Peter’s Basilica: 8 September 2026 His Most Reverend Excellency Archbishop Paolo Rudelli Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State Your Most Reverend Excellency, I have received your letter of 7 August informing me that, for this year, our international pilgrimage Ad Petri Sedem had not been granted permission to celebrate a Mass according to the usus antiquior in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on 24 October. Might we nevertheless, on that same 24 October, enter the Basilica in procession, pray for the Pope at the Altar of the Confession, and adore the Blessed Sacrament at the Altar of the Chair? The Basilica’s Sacristy informs us that this would be possible at 1:00 p.m., should you grant us permission. I ask Your Most Reverend Excellency to accept this expression of my profound respect. Finally, the Secretariat of State’s refusal of that request: From the Vatican, 30 September 2026 No. 58.510 Reverend Father, In reply to your letter of 8 September concerning the international pilgrimage Ad Petri Sedem, I inform you that it is not possible to grant your request.Please accept, Reverend Father, the expression of my prayerful and devoted sentiments. Paolo Rudelli Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State This proves that everything the organisers have said all along is the unvarnished truth. It also proves that there was no negligence whatsoever in the organisation of the pilgrimage, but rather care and respect in the way dealings with the Holy See were conducted. The refusal to allow Mass, and also the pilgrim's prayer, in St Peter’s, was solely the responsibility of the Holy See, which gave no explanation for its decisions. Nevertheless, to anyone paying even a little attention, those reasons seem clear.