Above: Bishop Athanasius Schneider preaches at St. Mary Major, Oct. 24, 2026; Photo credit: Advaticanum
Homily of Bishop Athanasius Schneider
Holy Mass, Summorum Pontificum Pilgrimage Ad Petri Sedem
24 October 2026, Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Rome
Praised be Jesus Christ! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ! The Holy Church, the Chair of Saint Peter, is our Mother. We are children of the Church, and this is why the expression “Holy Mother Church” is so dear to all true Catholics. The Church is a mother because there is another Mother, that one Mother who is immaculate, who is ever virgin: she is the Most Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother.
We have the great joy of being able to celebrate, at this moment and in this basilica — in the house of our Mother — the Holy Mass according to the same venerable form in which so many popes and countless generations of priests have celebrated it in this place. Here several saints and popes celebrated their first Holy Mass, such as Saint Ignatius of Loyola and Pope Pius XII.
Pope Francis had a particular devotion to the icon of the Salus Populi Romani kept in this basilica. He chose this very basilica as the place of his final earthly resting place.
