Group says pope has authorized a traditional Latin Mass in St. Peter’s September 10, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News, Worship & Sacraments VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Leo XIV has given permission for U.S. Cardinal Raymond L. Burke to celebrate the traditional Latin Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica during a pilgrimage in October. Una Voce International, a federation of groups of Catholics attached to the pre-Vatican II liturgy, announced the pope’s decision in a press statement Sept. 8. Cardinal Burke is scheduled to celebrate the Mass Oct. 25 at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica with people attending the annual Ad Petri Sedem “Summorum Pontificum” Pilgrimage to Rome, the group said. Neither Cardinal Burke nor the Vatican press office responded to a request for comment. During the group’s pilgrimages in 2023 and 2024, the Vatican did not allow the celebration of the old Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. In the statement, Joseph Shaw, president of the federation, said, “We are grateful to Pope Leo for his pastoral response to the request for a Traditional Mass in St. Peter’s. This celebration symbolizes the unity with the Holy Father so desired by Catholics attached to the ancient rite of Mass.” In 2021, Pope Francis issued “Traditionis Custodes” (“Guardians of the Tradition”), which significantly limited celebrations of the traditional Latin Mass using the 1962 Roman Missal. Permission for Cardinal Burke to preside over the liturgy “is the first concrete indication of the attitude of Pope Leo XIV to the Traditional Mass,” the federation said. “In the latter years of Pope Francis, the official view was that this form of the Mass, while not completely prohibited, should not be ‘promoted’ or given prominence, with high-profile celebrants in important churches.” Shaw told Catholic News Service Sept. 10 that while the annual pilgrimage had grown to close to 1,000 participants, “I am sure that the Holy Father’s permission for Mass in St. Peter’s with Cardinal Burke will boost (the numbers) significantly.” Read More Vatican News Pope Leo’s childhood home in Chicago suburb now a historic landmark Unity, dialogue, respect: On first trip, pope highlights paths to peace Pope Leo is first pontiff to go to St. Charbel’s tomb; visit is source of ‘great joy’ for Lebanon Pope tells reporters dialogue is always the answer to tense situations Choose the way of peace, pope says as he leaves Lebanon Lebanese have what is needed to build a future of peace, pope says Copyright © 2025 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
