Can any priest say mass at a cathedral/basilica side altar with permission?

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I was looking at pictures of side altars and altars in basilicas and cathedrals that aren’t the main altar (St. Peter’s Basilica being the most popular and instantaneous example) and some of them I see random priests doing mass. I was wondering whats the rule if a priest whether traveling alone or with pilgrims has easy access or permission to do masses at these altars with permission of a Bishop or security, etc.
 
It’s my understanding that when priests are planning to be somewhere like on pilgrimage and they want to say a Mass in a Cathedral or wherever, they usually call ahead and arrange this in advance. The amount of time they have to call ahead varies.
 
And this is regardless if its the NO or EF Im assuming.
 
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I don’t know if there’s a difference. I’ve only been on pilgrimages with priests doing the OF.
I would think priests planning to say the EF while traveling would seek out churches that regularly do the EF because they would be more likely to be equipped for that type of Mass.
I can tell you that some of the churches I’ve been in on pilgrimage don’t have altars that would work well for the EF Mass.
 
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I have been on several pilgrimages and the Mass is usually arranged ahead. When traveling to the more popular shrines, you have to be sure to be there on time because there will be groups scheduled and, if you’re late, you loose your spot.
 
Short answer is yes; but with some places you need to make arrangements in advance - you can’t just bowl on up (especially with a group), and expect the local sacristans to prepare everything. The priest is also going to need to produce his celebret (the document which says that he’s a priest in good standing)
 
The generic answer is yes.

However, it is most certainly a courtesy to arrange in advance. As said by InThePew you couldn’t arrive and expect everything to be suddenly provided for Mass. It is now the subject of ancient history but I was once an altar boy, I can attest to the fact that Mass doesn’t happen without preparation and clearing things away afterwards.

Again, as written by InThePew, a cathedral, basilica, church, shrine, etc. has to ensure that prior to allowing someone to say Mass they must check he’s a valid priest and in good standing with his ordinary or major superior.

In fact, I suspect in the example, you gave, i.e. St Peter’s in Rome and at other major pilgrimage sites, the Holy Land, Lourdes, Fatima, Walsingham that chaos would ensue if priests simply bowled up and expected to say Mass without any advanced notice.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
I don’t know if there’s a difference. I’ve only been on pilgrimages with priests doing the OF.
I would think priests planning to say the EF while traveling would seek out churches that regularly do the EF because they would be more likely to be equipped for that type of Mass.
I can tell you that some of the churches I’ve been in on pilgrimage don’t have altars that would work well for the EF Mass.
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Yes, there is a lot of truth to this.

Priests celebrating the EF would need a minimum of number items in order to celebrate the Mass and give communion to the laity - items that are not universally used in the Ordinary Form.

So unless a priest is willing to bring everything with him from home, he will need a Church that has all the necessary supplies.
 
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