On this day of the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Saturday, June 29, Pope Francis approved by chirograph the new statutes and regulations concerning the Chapter of St. Peter’s Basilica, inspired by the principles of the Constitution “Praedicate Evangelium”. The new rules of the Fabric of St. Peter were also published.
Vatican News
The Chapter of Saint Peter’s Basilica – that is to say the group of canons which takes care of its activities – has a new statute and new regulations. They were approved by Pope Francis in a chirograph, published Saturday June 29, which specifies that the norms, which will come into force with the publication in the Osservatore Romano, are inspired by the principles and criteria of the apostolic constitution Preach the Gospel.
A service to pilgrims
Saint Peter’s Basilica, built on the tomb of the Prince of the Apostles, writes the Pope in the chirograph, “is officiated by a Chapter of canons who maintain its decorum and promote its spiritual, pastoral, charitable and cultural life. This service is aimed, with particular attention, at the numerous pilgrims who, animated by sincere devotion, come to confirm their faith at the place of the Apostles’ Confession, but also at the numerous visitors, often belonging to different cultures and different religions, who are interested in contemplating the artistic and architectural beauties preserved in the Vatican Temple and the Christian message they transmit».
Canons and coadjutors, the new standards
The «renewal process” of capitular life, Francis recalls, began three years ago with the publication of the Transitional Norms on August 28, 2021. It is to these norms that the papal rescript refers, also published this Saturday, June 29, which clarifies certain aspects of the service carried out by canons and coadjutors. First of all, he establishes that the latter, named “without time limit» before the entry into force of the new rules and who have already reached or will reach the age of 80, assume “the status of honorary canons and honorary coadjutors” and are “exempt from any obligation towards the Chapter“So they do not participate in the sessions, they do not receive “no emolument“, although they may retain “their title, their salary and their clothing” and participate, “according to their status, to the liturgical celebrations of the basilica, as well as to pastoral activity», et «enjoy burial in the chapel of the Vatican Chapter».
The second point of the Rescript specifies that the coadjutors appointed before the entry into force of the new Statute “remain in service until the age of eighty, unless otherwise provided by the Higher Authority“, without receiving “fixed emolument, but an attendance fee for their service“. The Rescript ends by recalling the Pope’s wish that the provisions of the previous point apply “also to canons and coadjutors who, without having reached the age of eighty, have not attended liturgical celebrations or participated in chapter sessions for more than a year».
Status and regulations of the Fabrique de Saint-Pierre
Together with those of the Chapter of St. Peter, the statutes and regulations of the Fabrique of St. Peter were published this Saturday. In a statement from the Communications Department of St. Peter’s Basilica, it is emphasized that the approved norms are the fruit of a process that had already begun before the arrival of Cardinal Archpriest Mauro Gambetti and of the experience acquired after the application of the temporary norms that concerned both the Fabrique and the Chapter.The perspective that opens upindicates the press release, is that of a more fruitful animation of the Basilica, of its conservation and its enhancement to welcome the millions of pilgrims and visitors who come to the sanctuary each year, in particular in view of the Jubilee».
