Bishop Schneider today at St Mary Major's –– “Due to some liturgical restrictions and even pastoral discriminations, these (Latin Mass devotee) Catholics feel like 2nd class Catholics”

Some theories are circulating online about the Latin Mass pilgrimage, spread by people unconnected with it. Some clarity below — Organisers asked for permission for the Vatican Mass, via a letter delivered directly to Pope Leo by Bishop Schneider in December. The pilgrimage is in its 15th year, and is always held on the same date. Organisers received no answer about the Mass until August, when the Secretariat of State replied to say they could not have Mass in the Vatican. Pilgrimage organisers then announced publicly that no Mass would take place in the Vatican. Instead, pilgrims would process into the Vatican at 1pm on the Saturday, and then go to St Mary Major for a 3pm Mass. Permission for the procession into the Vatican was granted in April 2026. Weeks after this, in September, St Peter’s announced an event taking place at 3:30pm at the Altar of the Chair (used by the pilgrimage last year for Mass). Then this week – just yesterday I am told – organisers received another letter from the Secretariat of State informing them they could not even process into the Vatican as planned, and as permitted since April. Basilica events are not the prerogative of the Secretariat but of the Archpriest & the Fabric of St Peter’s: hence why the Secretariat of State’s involvement is so strange. On Saturday, pilgrims walked through the streets up to the obelisk in St. Peter’s Square – accompanied by Italian state police – where they were stopped by the Vatican as this was the limit of the Italian police’s jurisdiction. Then they were informed that their usage of St Mary Major’s had changed: they could only be inside for an hour. Thus meaning that the planned and authorised pontifical solemn Mass would have to be a low Mass. Also St Mary Major’s informed pilgrimage that no official photos could be taken

NEW: The group was stopped at the obelisk in St Peter’s Square, by order of the Vatican, at the edge of Italian jurisdiction Now also the pilgrimage has been told that it can only be at St Mary Major for 1 hour — so no solemn Mass as planned, just a low Mass

Latin Mass pilgrims are currently walking through the streets in front of the Vatican, in a non-liturgical event Comes after the Secretariat of State banned the procession from entering St Peter’s Basilica, in a letter delivered this week

NEW: Bishop Schneider at the annual Latin Mass pilgrimage to Rome, states — “History has shown us that there is nothing more dangerous - nothing more likely to result in discontent & apostasy - than interference with the liturgy”

The Irish Synodal Assembly voted recently for the Church to continue advocating for female deacons. The Assembly was attended by just under half of the nation's bishops among 300+ participants Now the bishop's conference must decide how to act on such a proposal Details below

Vatican states today that Pope Leo will not attend the Assisi meeting, on doctors' advice. Due to his recent lung surgery, doctors – as a "precautionary measure" – advised against the helicopter journey to get to Assisi Instead of attending, Leo will “send a message of solidarity to the organizers, the leaders and representatives of Christian denominations and other religions, as well as to the guests who will be present” It will be sent “in the belief that the 'spirit of Assisi,' dialogue, and the search for words and gestures of peace are precious resources in an age of conflict.”

Analysis for @CatholicHerald on the Vatican's new text regarding transmission of the faith –– As for its efficacy, only time will tell whether the new “Considerations” serve to aid the spread of the Faith. Yet upon first appraisal, the text appears to be re-presenting the sweet sentiment and lack of doctrinal force which have marked the Church’s life in recent decades: it thus risks being unlikely to produce anything vastly different.

JUST IN: Vatican publishes Cardinal Fernández’s new document on the transmission of faith Called Venite ad me it deals with "Considerations on the Transmission of the Faith in an Epochal Change" Fernández outlines that the document is chiefly to promote refleciton & discussion – “without, however, claiming to settle the matter, which remains open to further analysis and development.” Hence, the text is “not marked...by terminological precision and systematic treatment, but instead allow a more discursive style, as is especially evident in the section on personal testimonies mentioned above” Analysis soon on @CatholicHerald

Archbishop Cordileone offered Mass for the Latin Mass pilgrimage "Three Hearts" this wknd He warned that attacks on marriage are fuelled by atheism –– “This marginalizing of God from public life is happening in our midst – yes, in some more explicit ways – but most alarmingly by the destruction of marriage. “By wiping out the basic idea of marriage as the life-long and life-giving one-flesh communion of man and woman in a covenantal relationship, the image of God is wiped out from the face of the earth.”

JUST IN: Pope Leo's doctors have detailed his test results They confirm the tissue removed in surgery was pulmonary adenocarcinoma (non-small cell lung cancer) and it was localised They add that: a subsequent oncological evaluation confirmed that no further treatment is necessary.

Sr Mary Barron has renewed her activism for a female diaconate this week She told EWTN that: “women today may hear the call to priesthood. Some of the great women saints heard that call also. So for me, it’s how do we within the Church facilitate that discernment?”

On the issues of holy order & same-sex unions, 2 of the new members of the International Theological Commission have contradicted the very office they have now joined. Analysis below

The SSPX announces it will publish a documentary about the July 1 consecrations, on Nov 1. SSPX states it comprises “exclusive testimonies & previously unpublished images” It also delves into “the reasons for these episcopal consecrations, their preparations, the progress of the ceremony and the reactions it provoked.”