After two years of interruption, the Pontifical Mass according to the traditional Roman rite was celebrated again this afternoon in the Basilica of Saint Peter, at the Chair Altar, located in the apse and second in importance in the Vatican temple. The celebration was presided over by Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke and brought together more than 2,500 faithful and pilgrims from all over the world, within the framework of the annual pilgrimage Summorum Pontificum ad Petri Sedem.

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The apse altar hosted a liturgy with the ceremonial proper to the 1962 Missal, marked by silence, the solemn procession, and sacred chant. The numerous presence of priests and young seminarians stood out, along with religious and laypeople who filled the space set up for the celebration.

The return of this Mass to Saint Peter’s occurs after two years without authorization and in a context of uncertainty for the traditional rite, with restrictions and prohibitions in various dioceses—especially in the United States—that many consider a coordinated policy to limit its use. To date, there is no explicit pronouncement from the Pope on the continuity or possible modification of Traditionis Custodes.

In his homily, Cardinal Burke gave thanks to God for the spiritual fruits of Summorum Pontificum, recalling that this venerable form of the Roman rite has led many to the faith and has deepened the spiritual life of those who have discovered its beauty and discipline. “Through Summorum Pontificum, the Church has matured in a deeper love for the great gift of the Sacred Liturgy, transmitted by the Apostolic Tradition in an uninterrupted line from the Apostles,” affirmed the cardinal.

A significant moment was the participation of Cardinal Ernest Simoni, 97 years old, survivor of the communist persecution in Albania, who raised the prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel instituted by Leo XIII.

The celebration left a feeling of gratitude and hope among the pilgrims. For many, today’s Mass has been a sign of continuity amid uncertainty, a silent affirmation of fidelity to the liturgy that has nourished the faith of the Church for centuries.