Nearly 7,200 members of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) participated in a pilgrimage to Rome for the Jubilee, from August 19 to 21, 2025. These traditionalists, hailing from 44 countries, visited St. Peter's Basilica on the morning of April 21. The group included 680 priests and religious, according to the French website of the community.
The group's canonical status remains irregular, as despite papal concessions and outreach, they remain recalcitrant — but who can say "no" to a Jubilee?
The Society of Saint Pius X, which broke with the Catholic Church in the mid-1970s, was keen to join in the celebrations of the Holy Year inaugurated by Pope Francis last December.
In 1975, its founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who was highly critical of the Second Vatican Council, took part in that Jubilee. Thirteen years later, in 1988, John Paul II excommunicated him after he ordained four bishops without papal mandate.
This week, around 7,200 members of the Fraternity marched in procession to several major basilicas in Rome. They concluded their pilgrimage at St. Peter's on Thursday.
Fr. Davide Pagliarani, superior general of the Fraternity, led the pilgrimage. Their two bishops, Bernard Fellay and Alfonso de Galarreta, were present.
This pilgrimage, which was announced on the Jubilee organization's website, has been removed from the official Holy Year agenda, I.MEDIA has learned. During their visit to St. Peter's Basilica, the members of the SSPX did not walk behind the Jubilee cross like the other pilgrims.
Two steps forward, one step back
Relations between Rome and the Society have improved since the 2000s. In 2009, Benedict XVI lifted the excommunications of the four bishops ordained by Archbishop Lefebvre and initiated discussions, which failed in 2012.
Under Francis, exchanges resumed: the Pope received Archbishop Fellay on several occasions and recognized (temporarily) the validity of marriages and confessions celebrated by FSSPX priests.
The dialogue, which has slowed since Bishop Fellay was replaced as head of the Society in 2018, could enter a new phase. With only two bishops remaining, the community wishes to proceed with new episcopal consecrations — a step that, from a canonical point of view, requires the pope's consent.
