REPORT — Ad Petri Sedem: traditional Mass pilgrims barred from entering the Vatican

According to the organizers of the 15th Ad Petri Sedem (Summorum Pontificum) pilgrimage, the Secretariat of State has communicated an absolute ban on entering the Vatican for faithful attached to the traditional Mass according to the 1962 Missale Romanum. Franca Giansoldati reported this in Il Messaggero on 23 October 2026; Messainlatino republished the piece.

If confirmed, the ban would go beyond the already refused permission to celebrate the traditional Mass inside St Peter’s Basilica: it would also block the procession into the basilica to pray at the Apostle’s tomb, a customary feature of the pilgrimage since 2012.

Today’s programme. The Rosary and departure of the procession — authorized by Rome’s Questura — are set for 10 a.m. from the church of Santi Celso e Giuliano in Banchi, with arrival in St Peter’s Square around 11 a.m. It remains unclear whether the cortège may approach the Basilica, whether the Vatican Gendarmerie will intervene at the border, and which rules will apply. Some participants, Giansoldati reports, do not rule out trying to reach at least the parvis, with a risk of tension.

Background. Less than three months ago Mauro Gambetti, then archpriest of the Basilica, had authorized by letter a brief celebration at a side altar. In 2025 Leo XIV authorized Raymond Leo Burke to celebrate a traditional pontifical Mass at the Altar of the Chair (25 October 2025). This year the main celebration is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Santa Maria Maggiore, with Athanasius Schneider.

Organizers. Christian Marquant (Oremus-Paix Liturgique) expressed shock at the Augustinianum. Promoters stress they do not belong to the Priestly Fraternity of St Pius X and declare themselves «cum Petro et sub Petro». According to Marquant, as reported by Giansoldati, during an audience granted to Athanasius Schneider last December Leo XIV reportedly commented on the previous year’s Mass in St Peter’s with the words: «That Mass was instrumentalized» (our translation of Giansoldati’s Italian rendering: «Quella Messa è stata strumentalizzata»).

Official status. No Holy See Press Office statement confirms or denies the ban. The pilgrimage website (summorum-pontificum.org) still listed entry and prayer in St Peter’s. Diane Montagna reported the same line on 23 October, citing Marquant and a Secretariat of State letter: «Your procession is not allowed to enter into St. Peter’s Basilica».

Update, 24 October. According to Messainlatino, as reported by Edward Pentin and Die Tagespost, the Vatican stopped the procession of Traditional Mass pilgrims at the obelisk in St Peter's Square this morning, and they did not enter the Basilica. Today's Pontifical Mass at St Mary Major was also barred: it will be a Low Mass of one hour at most, celebrated by Athanasius Schneider. No statement from the Holy See Press Office. Sources: Edward Pentin · Die Tagespost

Update — photo and on-the-ground confirmation. On the afternoon of 24 October Michael Haynes published a photo of the pilgrims stopped at the obelisk in St Peter’s Square and confirmed that the group was halted “by order of the Vatican, at the edge of Italian jurisdiction.” He also reported that only one hour was allowed at St Mary Major, meaning a Low Mass rather than the planned Pontifical Mass with Athanasius Schneider. Source: Michael Haynes on X (24 October 2026).

Update 25 October. Vatican sources say that for the Ad Petri Sedem pilgrimage Mass in St Peter’s was not an outright ban: the requested date clashed with Lectio Francisci for the 800th anniversary of St Francis at the Altar of the Chair (confirmed on the Basilica site, 24 Oct, 3:30 p.m.). The same applies to the single hour at Saint Mary Major. A change of date was proposed, but the organizers did not accept.

Sources. Il Messaggero (Giansoldati) · Messainlatino · Diane Montagna