Traditional Pentecost pilgrimage comes in middle of heated TLM discussion in French church

PARIS (OSV News) -- A record 19,000 pilgrims are set to walk from Paris to Chartres this Pentecost weekend, June 7–9, in the annual traditional pilgrimage organized by Notre-Dame de Chrétienté.

Devoted to the “traditional Latin Mass,” or TLM, the event has grown steadily, with 2,000 would-be participants still on a waiting list. But French bishops, following Vatican instructions, have reminded organizers that only diocesan bishops can authorize the celebration of the Latin Mass, also known as the Tridentine Mass.

"In 2024, we had to close registration at 18,000 people, which was a record," Philippe Darantière, president of the Association Notre-Dame de Chrétienté, told OSV News. "This year, a new logistical arrangement allows us to accommodate 19,000, which is a new record. But 2,000 people remained on the waiting list."

For 2026, the association is working on solutions that will allow for even more participants. "We will set up parallel routes, which we are already testing this year on part of the route," Darantière said.

The Paris-Chartres pilgrimage is organized by devotees of the traditional Latin Mass -- celebrated throughout the three days. Participants spend the nights camping at their daily destination. Luggage is driven from one place to another by trucks organized by volunteers. Chartres is located 60 miles southwest of the French capital.

On June 7 in the morning, pilgrims will depart from Saint-Sulpice, an iconic church in central Paris.

On June 9, Bishop Philippe Christory of Chartres will welcome the pilgrims to his diocese's cathedral. The traditional Latin Mass will be celebrated by the chaplain general of Notre-Dame de Chrétienté, with Bishop Christory delivering the homily.

In recent months, new sources of tensions arose between the organizers of the pilgrimage and the French bishops. Tensions have existed since the publication of the apostolic letter "Traditionis Custodes" that Pope Francis issued motu proprio on July 16, 2021, followed by the "responsa ad dubia" -- response to questions -- published by the Holy See on Dec. 18, 2021. They had the effect of greatly reducing the possibility of celebrating Mass according to the pre-Second Vatican Council form of the rite.

In France, two bishops are delegated by the bishops' conference to maintain regular relations with the institutes that use the Tridentine rite -- Archbishop Vincent Jordy of Tours, and Archbishop Dominique Lebrun of Rouen.

On May 6, they sent a letter to all the bishops of France outlining the instructions received from the prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, British Cardinal Arthur Roche, regarding the pilgrimage of Notre-Dame de Chrétienté.

Echoing the instructions, dated April 8, 2025, the two archbishops stated that "a secular or ecclesial organization can certainly call for and organize a pilgrimage, but has no authority regarding the liturgy" and added that "only the diocesan bishop has this authority." They reiterated that it is up to the bishops of each diocese crossed by the Chartres pilgrimage to grant permission to celebrate the Tridentine Mass.

They also insisted that "during the pilgrimage, all priests will celebrate the sacrament of penance according to the rite reformed by the (Second Vatican) Council," and that all priests must be able to celebrate Mass according to the new Missal if they want to.

When questioned on this subject, Darantière specified that four bishops are involved in the pilgrims' journey, and he mentioned his discussions with the bishop of Chartres.

"Bishop Christory recognizes the specific nature of our pilgrimage," he said. "He wrote to me on May 20 that he authorized priests to use the old rite for confessions in his diocese during the pilgrimage, and that priests from his diocese who request it may celebrate Mass in the Tridentine rite in his diocese."

"Regarding the request that priests who wish to do so be allowed to celebrate Mass according to the new rite during the pilgrimage, we want to comply as best we can with what is asked of us," Darantière assured.

"But we have not received such requests. The diocesan priests who participate (in the pilgrimage) come only for specific moments, after celebrating Mass in their parishes." "I admit that this simplifies things," Darantière added.

"The specificity of this pilgrimage is to transmit the faith through the Tridentine liturgy. It is a unique ecclesial experience, based on internal coherence. You would not invite soccer players to participate in a rugby match," the organizer of the pilgrimage told OSV News.

Beyond the pilgrimage, Darantière expressed his feeling that the bishops of France have become more severe in recent times toward the faithful who are attached to the pre-conciliar liturgy.

"I understand this feeling very well, from their point of view," Archbishop Lebrun told OSV News. "But as bishops, we feel that we are very patient. We welcomed the motu proprio 'Traditionis Custodes,' as we welcome everything that comes from the pope, whoever he may be."

For his part, the bishop emphasized the importance of having only one Roman rite. "We therefore authorize the Mass according to the 'Vetus Ordo' (Tridentine rite) as an exception only, because he (Pope Francis) asked us to do so," the archbishop said.

"These faithful have the right to think that the pre-council liturgy is a treasure not to be lost," Archbishop Lebrun added. "I understand their disagreement and I understand that it is difficult for them. But there is an authority in the church to discern. Unity is also built in obedience. We strive to ask for this obedience with kindness and even generosity.

The archbishop however also said that he observes "a persistent lack of obedience" within the traditional movement, admitting that "we do indeed have a fundamental disagreement" with the traditionalists in the church.

"We would like them to gradually move towards what the pope, whoever he may be, is asking. The idea is that there is only one Roman rite, even if it may be expressed differently at one time or another," Archbishop Lebrun said. "What I reject is binary, exclusive thinking. I would have liked, for example, as a sign of unity, for the Mass at the beginning of the pilgrimage to be celebrated in Paris according to the new rite."

The opening Mass of the pilgrimage was traditionally celebrated in Notre Dame Cathedral, however when Paris' icon was closed for restoration, it moved to Saint-Sulpice and is not returning to Notre Dame in 2025.