Vatican City, May 30, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Earlier today, the Vatican made public new norms, written by Pope Benedict on the Feast of the Visitation of Mary, for the practice of worship in the pontifical basilica of St. Paul’s Outside-the-Walls, which clarify specific questions of jurisdiction and administrative aspects of the ancient basilica and it’s grounds.
The Holy Father noted that the basilica sits on the site, which, according to tradition, St. Paul himself, was martyred. It also serves as the church for a Benedictine abbey, which is located on the same complex.
In accordance with the Lateran Pacts of 1929, international law, and successive agreements between the Italian government and the Vatican, the Pope holds civil authority over the basilica and the entire extraterritorial complex despite its relative distance from the Vatican itself.
The Pope pointed out that, in the past, the Holy See was only able to define some aspects of the jurisdiction of the pontifical administration of the basilica and the adjoining abbey, but wrote today that he now sees it "appropriate to emanate some general norms with the aim of clarifying and defining the principle aspects of the pastoral and administrative management of the complex of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls.”