FSSP gets apostolic visitation from the Vatican

The FSSP is an international community of priests which celebrates the Traditional Latin Mass. Pope Francis’ reign has been marked by a series of disciplinary actions against conservative clergy, and by restrictions of the Latin Mass.

 (LifeSiteNews) — The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) has been informed that it will receive an apostolic visitation from the Vatican.

The FSSP is an international community of priests, under the authority of the Holy See, which celebrates the Traditional Latin Mass in churches around the world.

Pope Francis’ reign has been marked by a series of disciplinary actions against traditional and conservative clergy, and by introducing significant restrictions of the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass.

In November 2023 Bishop Joseph Strickland was personally removed from his diocese by Pope Francis following an apostolic visitation. Shortly afterwards Strickland revealed that one of the reasons for his removal was his refusal to cancel the Latin Mass in the diocese of Tyler, Texas.

In a communique published earlier this week the FSSP announced the news of their visitation, adding that they have been informed by Vatican authorities that “this visit does not originate in any problems of the Fraternity.”

The visitation will be conducted by the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, which has been in charge of the FSSP and similar priestly institutes for the past three years.

The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) has recently been informed by the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life of the opening of an apostolic visitation of the Fraternity. As the Prefect of this Dicastery himself made clear to the Superior General and his assistants during a meeting in Rome, this visit does not originate in any problems of the Fraternity, but is intended to enable the Dicastery to know who we are, how we are doing and how we live, so as to provide us with any help we may need.

The last ordinary apostolic visit of the Fraternity was undertaken in 2014 by the Ecclesia Dei Commission. As the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has been in charge of the FSSP and other former Eccelsia Dei institutes for the past three years, it now the competency of this Dicastery to look after the FSSP.