Why doesn't the pope celebrate mass at the Lateran basilica?

[magnusbar]

Why doesn’t the pope celebrate more masses in the archbasilica of St. John Lateran? After all, it is where the papal cathedra is situated.

If I am not mistaken, pope Francis has only celebrated one (1) mass at the basilica (in 2013), and that pope Benedict was a more frequent user of the papal basilica.

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[angel12]

You would probably have to ask him. How would we know?

 

[tafan2]

I would be surprised if the Holy Father has only celebrated on mass at St John Lateran. Regardless, it’s not all that often that our Bishop celebrates mass at the our cathedral. I do not believe it is a reasonable criticism.

 

[magnusbar]

No critique, just curious
After some research I found out he celebrates Corpus Christi every year at the Lateran basilica and will do it again in 2019! So problem solved

 

[phil19034]

Why doesn’t the pope celebrate more masses in the archbasilica of St. John Lateran? After all, it is where the papal cathedra is situated.

My guess - and it’s a total guess on my part… is that leaving Vatican City requires security. Not just Swiss guard, but also coordination with the City of Rome and/or Italian govt.

In many ways, it would be no different if the President of the United States or Queen of England decided to go to Rome.

So that would be my guess why he doesn’t do it often.

 

[phil19034]

Regardless, it’s not all that often that our Bishop celebrates mass at the our cathedral.

Unless you have a co-Cathedral that the bishop is at most of the time, that is a real shame. And if you are talking about Washington, DC; I’ve never really like how many of the Archbishops of Washington have used the Basilica as if it was their Cathedral, because it isn’t.

 

[tafan2]

Well, maybe I spoke out of turn. I have only seen the Bishop celebrate mass at the cathedral for a special occasion. I see him say mass at our parish more often ( seems like a couple times a year). In the past, when I happen to go to Sunday mass at the cathedral, it has always been the rector of the cathedrals or one of his assistant priests. But that is all anecdotal.

 

[phil19034]

Well, maybe I spoke out of turn. I have only seen the Bishop celebrate mass at the cathedral for a special occasion. I see him say mass at our parish more often ( seems like a couple times a year). In the past, when I happen to go to Sunday mass at the cathedral, it has always been the rector of the cathedrals or one of his assistant priests. But that is all anecdotal.

I know at my Cathedral, our Archbishop always celebrates the 6PM Mass, unless he’s traveling or sick.

So maybe your bishop does a particular mass. Or the Cathedral does a rotating schedule? Or maybe your bishop does confirmations on Sundays?



Lets say your diocese has 100 parishes. And let’s say 40 of them do confirmations on Saturdays, 35 do them during the week, and another 25 do them on Sundays.

That would mean that 25 weeks out of the year, your bishop would be away from the Cathedral for Sunday mass. And that doesn’t include time he’s away for conferences, other parish visits, etc.

So if you are in a diocese that is geographically large, but with a small population, with no auxiliary bishops… then I guess it is possible that the bishop might be away from the Cathedral a lot.