Vatican bars Traditionalists from St. Peter's

The Vatican Secretariat of State has prohibited pilgrims participating in the 15th International Summorum Pontificum Ad Petri Sedem pilgrimage from entering St. Peter's Basilica for a procession scheduled for Saturday, October 24.

Christian Marquant, president of the French association Paix Liturgique and one of the pilgrimage organizers, announced the decision during a meeting at the Augustinianum Institute in Rome on Friday. Marquant stated that a letter from the Secretariat of State informed organizers that the procession is not permitted to enter the basilica to pray before the tomb of the Apostle.

The prohibition follows previous restrictions that denied these faithful the ability to celebrate Mass using the 1962 Roman Missal within the basilica. Organizers also noted that accusations were made regarding the instrumentalization of the Mass celebrated during the previous year's pilgrimage.

The pilgrimage, which runs from October 23 to 25, brings together priests, religious, and lay faithful from various countries to express their connection to traditional liturgy.