The Vatican has announced that it will be conducting an apostolic visitation to the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP), a group of priests that celebrates the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) while remaining in full communion with the Catholic Church.
This upcoming visit aims to deepen the Vatican’s understanding of the FSSP and support its mission.
The FSSP differs from the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X (SSPX), another traditionalist group that is not fully integrated with the Catholic Church, having an irregular canonical status.
Purpose of the Apostolic Visitation
In a statement released on September 30, the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life explained the reason for this visit.
It emphasized that the visitation’s goal is to offer guidance and assess how the FSSP operates.
Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, the prefect of the dicastery, and Sister Simona Brambilla, its secretary, signed the statement, clarifying that this visit fits into the broader context of supporting groups like the FSSP, which were originally established by the now-defunct Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei.
This initiative follows the guidelines set forth in Pope Francis’ motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, which places these groups under the dicastery’s jurisdiction.
FSSP’s Response to the Visit
The FSSP responded with its own statement on September 26, explaining that the visitation is not a result of any issues within the fraternity.
Instead, it serves as a way for the Vatican to get to know the fraternity better.
The FSSP emphasized that the last visitation occurred in 2014 and was conducted by the Ecclesia Dei commission.
The fraternity views this current visit as an opportunity for growth and to receive any necessary assistance from the dicastery.
Who Are the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter?
The FSSP is a society of apostolic life of pontifical right, meaning it operates under the authority of the Holy See.
According to its website, its priests are united in a common mission within the Catholic Church.
The fraternity is dedicated to celebrating the Traditional Latin Mass, using the liturgical books from 1962, as specified in its founding documents and reaffirmed by Pope Francis in 2022.
The FSSP has around 368 priests and 201 seminarians worldwide, with members in countries such as Mexico, Chile, Spain, and Canada.
What Was the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei?
The Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei was established by Pope John Paul II in 1988 to facilitate the reintegration of traditionalist groups like the SSPX into full communion with the Catholic Church.
This commission oversaw various religious institutes that celebrated the extraordinary form of the Roman rite, or the Traditional Latin Mass, until its dissolution.
The Impact of Traditionis Custodes
In July 2021, Pope Francis issued Traditionis Custodes, a motu proprio that significantly restricted the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass.
This marked a shift from Pope Benedict XVI’s earlier decree in Summorum Pontificum, which had liberalized the use of the 1962 missal.
Traditionis Custodes has since placed the oversight of the Latin Mass under stricter Vatican authority, including the dicastery now involved in the FSSP’s visitation.
What’s Next for the FSSP?
As the apostolic visitation progresses, the FSSP will work closely with the Vatican to ensure that its practices align with the expectations set by Pope Francis.
While the fraternity remains dedicated to the Traditional Latin Mass, it is also open to dialogue and reflection, as encouraged by the Holy Father.
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