St. Peter’s Basilica to offer nightly Eucharistic adoration during Synod on Synodality

St. Peter’s Square was illuminated by candlelight the night of Saturday, May 20, 2023, as pilgrims prayed the rosary in a procession in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. | Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

By Courtney Mares/Catholic News Agency

St. Peter’s Basilica has extended its usual hours of daily Eucharistic adoration this month as the Synod on Synodality assembly meets at the Vatican.

The Vatican announced on Oct. 4 that the basilica will hold an additional hour of adoration in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays to offer the synod delegates and the faithful the chance to pray during the XVI Ordinary Synod of Bishops Oct. 4–29.

St. Peter’s Basilica will also host weekly candlelight rosary processions at 9 p.m. each Saturday in the month of October, a month traditionally dedicated to the prayer of the rosary, as it did in May.

Rosary procession in St. Peter’s Square on the eve of Pentecost pic.twitter.com/t08Vp6APjb — Courtney Mares (@catholicourtney) May 27, 2023

Cardinal Mario Grech, the general secretary of the synod, will preside over the month’s first candlelight rosary procession on Oct. 7, the feast of the Holy Rosary. Synod delegates have been invited to take part in the processions, which will include prayers for the synod assembly.

According to St. Peter’s Basilica, the Eucharistic Holy Hours and Masses scheduled for the synod delegates in St. Peter’s Basilica are open to the general public. The synod Masses will take place in the basilica on Oct. 9, 13, 18, and 23 at 8:45 a.m.

Any Catholics who wish to attend Masses, adoration, or confession in St. Peter’s Basilica can skip the line to enter the basilica using the new prayer entrance.

St. Peter’s Basilica usually offers continuous Eucharistic adoration in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament from Monday to Saturday from about 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., as well as 10 daily Masses on most weekdays.