Press Release on the Ad Petri Sedem Pilgrimage 2026
Press Release from Una Voce International (FIUV)
‘Ad Petri Sedem’ Pilgrimage 2026
Monday, 26th October 2026 — ROME, ITALY
Many members and supporters take part in the pilgrimage and we as an organisation are a member of the Coetus Internationalis Summorum Pontificum; we regard the annual pilgrimage as having great significance for the movement for the Traditional Mass. We would like to correct some misunderstandings which have arisen over the organisation of the pilgrimage this year.
The authorities (through the Secretariat of State) declined the Coetus’ request for the celebration of Mass in St Peter’s, in August. At that point it was hoped and assumed that it would nevertheless be possible to have a collective devotion of some kind for the pilgrims, in St Peter’s, as happened in 2023 and 2024 when permission for Mass was refused. The August letter did not rule this out, so the Coetus requested it.
This request was refused in a letter dated 30th September, which was however not received by the organisers until well into October.
In the meantime permission was sought and gained for a Prelatial (Pontifical) Low Mass in St Mary Major.
The Coetus was privileged to be allowed a Mass there on a Saturday, which is not normally allowed for pilgrim groups. A very reasonable time slot was allocated for this, and Mass ended at about 4:15, as would be expected.
The Cardinal Archpriest, the sacristans, and the Basilica security were all very helpful, and we are very grateful to them. The Dominican priests whose role is to hear confessions in the Basilica made themselves available to the pilgrims.
We are also grateful to the Lissom Grove choir and to the 1,500 pilgrims who filled this ancient Basilica.
Joseph Shaw, President
Monika Rheinschmitt, Treasurer
Rome