Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “I rely heavily on you and on your ministry that St Peter's Basilica may truly be a place of prayer, adoration and praise to the Lord - Pope Benedict XVI said in his address to the Chapter of St Peter's. In this sacred place visited every day by thousands of pilgrims and tourists from all over the world, more than elsewhere it is necessary to have close to the tomb of Peter a stable community of prayer to guarantee continuity with tradition and at the same time intercede for the Pope's intentions in the today of the Church and the world”. Receiving in audience the members of the Chapter of St Peter's Papal Basilica in the Vatican in the late morning on 8 October, the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI recalled “the uninterrupted presence of praying clergy in the Vatican Basilica since the days of Saint Gregory the Great: a continual presence, purposely discreet, but faithful and persevering”.
The Chapter dates to 1053, with Pope Leo IX, and under the pontificate of Eugene IV it acquired the characteristics of a well structured, autonomous community. “There has been, in substance, a long gradual passage from the monastic structure, placed at the service of the Basilica, to the present canonical structure” said Benedict XVI mentioning numerous fields of commitment in which the Chapter has been involved since it was established: liturgical, administrative, pastoral, charity work… Since the 11th century, 11 of the Popes have been Vatican Chapter members. Since the 16th century the history of the Vatican Chapter has been interwoven with that of the Fabbrica di San Pietro (St Peter's Building and Maintenance Body), as the latter developed. Since the last decades of the last century the Chapter's activity “has gradually oriented itself towards the rediscovery of its original functions, consisting above all in the ministry of prayer”. In this regard the Holy Father recalled the contribution expected of the Vatican Chapter: “to recall with your prayerful presence at the tomb of Peter that nothing must be put before God; that the Church is oriented entirely towards Him, to his glory; that the primacy of Peter is at the service of the unity of the Church, and that the Church, in turn, is at the service of the Most Holy Trinity's plan for salvation”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 9/10/2007; righe 24, parole 375)
