Feast of the Chair of St. Peter celebrated this year on 21 February

By Vatican News staff reporter

On Tuesday, 21 February, the Church will celebrate the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter. The celebration, which is traditionally observed on 22 February, has been brought forward by one day, as this year it coincides with Ash Wednesday.

The statue of St. Peter Basilica to be dressed in solemn pontifical vestments 

On the occasion, the Chair and the Statue of the Apostle in St. Peters’ Basilica will be decorated by the ornaments that traditionally enrich the celebration of this Solemnity.

Following an ancient tradition, the so-called “Sanpietrini,” the workers responsible for the upkeep of the Basilica and its art works, will dress the Bernini's famous bronze statue in solemn pontifical vestments and will install decorations and one hundred candles around it, the Fabbrica of St. Peter announced in a press release on Monday.

Pilgrims and visitors will thus be able to admire the statue of the Apostle and the suggestive "luminaria", symbolizing the Magisterium of the Supreme Pontiff.

The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter will be celebrated with a Mass presided over by the Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti O.F.M. Conv., at the Altar of the Chair, or “Cathedra”. 

The "Passion of Christ" by Gaetano Previati  to be exhibiled during Lent

Also, as in 2022, starting from 21 February,  the "Passion of Christ" by Italian artist Gaetano Previati (Ferrara 1852 – Lavagna 1920) kept in the Vatican Museums will be temporarily exhibited in the Basilica during Lent.

The oil panting representing the 14 Stations of the Way of the Cross, will be installed by the workers of the “Fabbrica of St. Peter” under the supervision of the Vatican Museums.

The staging of the picture, which has been chosen for its evocative power, dimension and colours, will be a “devotional” exhibition meant to encourage the faithful to meditate on the mysteries of the Way of the Cross (Via Crucis ) on all Fridays of Lent as they prepare for the Easter celebrations, the press release explains.

The first celebration of the Via Crucis will be presided over by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti on 24 February, at 4,00 p.m. before the scheduled Eucharistic celebration.