This Sunday, Pope Leo XIV will step into a historic tradition when he celebrates Mass at the Parish of St. Anne, the small but deeply significant church within Vatican City. According to the Holy See Press Office, the Holy Father will preside at the liturgy on September 21, the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, according to Vatican News.
A Church with a Unique History
The Church of St. Anne traces its roots back to the 16th century. Once the gathering place of the Confraternity of the Pontifical Grooms, those who cared for the papal stables—it has long been connected to the daily life of the Vatican. When the Lateran Pacts were signed in 1929, Pope Pius XI formally established the parish and entrusted its pastoral care to the Augustinian order (Vatican News).
The Augustinians continue to serve there today, under the leadership of Father Mario Millardi. The parish, while small in size, holds a unique place as the spiritual home for many of the workers and residents inside Vatican City.
A Tradition of Papal Visits
Pope Leo follows in the footsteps of many of his predecessors who prayed and preached within St. Anne’s walls. Pius XI attended the inauguration of the church’s organ in 1931. St. John XXIII visited in 1961, and St. Paul VI marked his golden jubilee of priesthood there in 1970. St. John Paul II, celebrating Mass in 1978, affectionately called St. Anne’s “my parish.” More recently, Benedict XVI presided over a liturgy there in 2006, and Pope Francis chose it for his very first public Mass in March 2013 (Vatican News).
A Parish for the Pope and the People
For Catholics, St. Anne’s represents more than just an ancient chapel tucked into Vatican City. It is a living parish that unites the daily rhythm of the Vatican with the universal mission of the Church. When Pope Leo stands at its altar this Sunday, he will be adding his own chapter to nearly a century of papal presence in this small, sacred space.
As the Church celebrates the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Pope’s visit reminds us that even within the grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica and the global mission of the Church, the heart of Catholic life remains rooted in the local parish.
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