The Pope Frees 200 Priests For Parish Duties

The Pope has ordered that the Capitular High Mass and singing of the Divine Office shall be suspended except on Sundays and holidays in three Basilicas as from Tuesday November 1, for three years. The basilicas concerned are those of St. Peter. St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran.
The Holy Father has taken this step to enable the 200 odd priests of the chapters of the three basilicas to devote themselves to the ministry in other Roman parishes.
The priests of the basilicas are in constant demand for services in one or other of Rome's 1,000 churches and chapels every day.
The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, under the care of Benedictine monks, is excluded from the Papal order.