The Catholic Church is bracing for a delicate encounter with the Priestly Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) following the group’s announcement that it intends to consecrate new bishops without Rome’s approval.
Such a move could trigger automatic excommunication for the bishops involved and widen the longstanding divide between the SSPX and the Vatican.
Scheduled Meeting to Foster Informal Dialogue
The Vatican has confirmed that a meeting will take place on February 12 at the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the body responsible for safeguarding Catholic doctrine.
Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, who heads the dicastery, will lead the discussions, while Father Davide Pagliarani, the 55-year-old superior general of the SSPX, will represent the traditionalist society.
Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni described the meeting as “an opportunity for an informal and personal dialogue, which may help identify effective instruments of dialogue that could lead to positive outcomes,” according to Vatican News.
Currently, only this meeting with the dicastery is planned, and it remains unclear whether Pope Leo XIV will meet with Father Pagliarani directly.
SSPX Calls for Prayerful Support
Ahead of the meeting, the SSPX released a communiqué on February 5 urging members and the faithful to accompany the dialogue with prayer.
The society has long positioned itself as a guardian of traditional Catholic practices, and its leadership views this meeting as a critical moment for engagement with the Vatican.
Roots of the SSPX and Past Conflicts
The SSPX was founded in 1970 by French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in response to reforms from the Second Vatican Council, particularly on religious freedom and the Church’s relations with other faiths.
The society is known for celebrating the traditional Latin Mass exclusively, following liturgical books used before post-conciliar changes.
Tensions came to a head in 1988 when Lefebvre ordained four bishops without papal permission, directly defying St. John Paul II. This action led to the excommunication of all those involved.
Lefebvre passed away in 1991 without reconciling with Rome.
In a later move toward reconciliation, Pope Benedict XVI lifted the excommunications of the surviving bishops in 2009, and Pope Francis authorized SSPX priests to hear confessions and witness marriages.
Despite these gestures, the society still exists in an irregular canonical status within the Church.
Upcoming Consecrations Mark a Controversial Anniversary
The SSPX has announced that its planned episcopal consecrations will occur on July 1, coinciding with the anniversary of the 1988 decree issued by John Paul II that excommunicated Archbishop Lefebvre.
This decision has reignited concerns over the society’s stance toward Rome and poses new challenges for ongoing reconciliation efforts.
Looking Ahead
Observers now watch closely to see whether this dialogue can bridge divides or whether the upcoming consecrations will deepen the rift.
The Vatican-SSPX encounter represents a critical juncture for the Church’s engagement with one of its most prominent traditionalist groups, and many faithful are hoping that prayer and dialogue will lead to constructive outcomes.
