A Scandinavian dimension

Alberto Carosa on the 7th International Summorum Pontificum Pilgrimage to Rome

The now traditional international Summorum Pontificum pilgrimage to Rome took place from 26-28 October, 2018, as usual in connection with the Feast of Christ the King, which according to the calendar of the Extraordinary Rite is celebrated on the last Sunday of October.

The only exception was in 2017, when this gathering of faithful from around the world attached to the pre-Vatican II liturgy took place on September 14- 17, 2017, to mark the tenth anniversary of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum.

The pilgrimage is promoted by the Coetus Internationalis Summorum Pontificum (CISP), a group that brings together traditionalist Catholic organizations from different countries, which this year included French portal Oremus Paix Liturgique, FIUV (Latin acronym for International Una Voce Federation) and Fœderatio Internationalis Juventutem, an international movement of young Catholics attached to the pre-Vatican II liturgy.

The 2018 pilgrimage was also characterized by a Scandinavian dimension, which bears a direct reference to what Pope Francis has often termed as the “periphery” of the Catholic Church. This dimension was first and foremost due to the presence of the Bishop of Copenhagen, the Most Reverend Czeslaw Kozon, whose diocese comprises the whole of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. He led the pilgrimage and presided over the liturgies, whose highlight was a Solemn Pontifical Mass in the old rite in St Peter’s Basilica on October 27, 2018.

Among the pilgrims were some 40 faithful from Scandinavia, mostly Danes and Swedes, with representatives of the local clergy, including Father Anders Hamberg, who heads the parish church in Jyväskylä in central Finland, where he regularly celebrates the Extraordinary Rite, and the Danish Father Jan Hansen, who is currently studying Canon Law in Rome.

Despite its specifically religious connotation, the pilgrimage had a “lay” opening on Friday morning, October 26, at the Patristic Institute Augustinianum, a few steps away from St Peter’s: a forum where an international panel of leading figures of the Summorum Pontificum communities around the world took stock of the progress made by its application in their respective countries and/or geographic areas.

Among the speakers were Cardinal Raymond Burke, Archbishop Emeritus of Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze Kiun (by video message), the CISP chaplain Fr Claude Barthe, Fr Charles Ike of the FSSP, Canon Joseph Luzuy of the ICKSP for Italy, parish priest Don Raffaele Roffino of Rivarolo Canavese in the diocese of Ivrea, the President of the International Federation Una Voce Felipe Alanis, the Secretary of Juventutem, Paul Schultz, the President of Oremus Christian Marquant and attorney Marco Sgroi, organizer of the Coordinamento nazionale del Summorum Pontificum.

These panelists agreed that we are witnessing a slow but profound impact of the pre-Vatican II liturgy that, although still facing difficulties here and there, and at times even setbacks, there is the laying of foundations for its definitive resurrection.

The opening Mass of the pilgrimage was celebrated in the evening in the parish church of Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini by Fr Ike, also in thanksgiving for the 30th anniversary of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, which was canonically erected on October 18. In a previous pilgrimage on the exact date of the anniversary, the FSSP had offered a morning Mass at the tomb of St Peter for the intentions of its supporters of the FSSP, while later pilgrims attended a Solemn High Mass of thanksgiving at Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini, the FSSP personal parish in Rome, offered by its Superior General Fr Andrzej Komorowski. In the evening, Fr Komorowski and Fr Jean-Cyrile Sow, the Rector of Santissima Trinità, joined the group of pilgrims for a festive dinner at Casa di Santa Brigida.

The liturgical highlight was the Pontifical Mass in St Peter’s on Saturday morning, preceded by Eucharistic Adoration in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Damaso, from which the traditional-minded faithful proceeded in procession to St Peter’s Basilica amid prayers, hymns, standards and national flags through the streets of Rome led by Mgr Kozon and around 100 clergy.

The homily was delivered by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St Peter, right after the Pope’s welcoming address with his apostolic blessing, which was read out by the secretary of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, Archbishop Guido Pozzo. In his homily the senior prelate called upon us to imitate the humility of Our Lady, the Mother of God. “Mary responded to God's call with an impressive docility and made herself available for a project that would make anyone tremble”, he said. Therefore, since her yes to the incarnation, “Mary is the greatest collaborator of God for the salvation of mankind.” Her docility in saying yes to the Lord, he went on, is a clear message for us, since we are all called to be collaborators of God’s salvation plan.

The pilgrimage ended on Sunday, October 28, the Feast of Christ the King, with two Solemn Masses: one at 9.30am in the church of Gesù e Maria al Corso celebrated by Msgr Schmitz, Vicar General of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, for pilgrims wishing to participate in the Angelus of the Holy Father, and a pontifical at 11am celebrated by Mgr Kozon at Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini.

His homily emphasised that the virtue of humility is a prerequisite for practicing the approach of Our Lord, who came to serve and not to be served.