The unauthorized ordination of bishops by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (FSSPX or SSPX) would constitute “a schismatic act.” Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, confirmed this in a brief statement published today, Wednesday, May 13. He said that Pope Leo XIV is praying for the members of this traditionalist movement, who oppose the Second Vatican Council, to “reconsider the extremely grave decision they have taken.”
The Vatican's doctrinal chief confirms that the traditionalist group's planned episcopal ordinations without a papal mandate constitute a schismatic act.
Echoes of an illicit consecration
In the statement, the Argentine prefect noted he is reiterating “what has already been communicated” to the FSSPX last February, after the group announced its intention to ordain several bishops. These episcopal ordinations, he stressed, “do not have the requisite papal mandate.”
They do have a historical precedent. On June 30, 1988, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, the founder of the FSSPX, illicitly consecrated four bishops in Écône, Switzerland, against the will of Rome. All the participating bishops were excommunicated in the aftermath.
Formal adherence to schism
Cardinal Fernández referred to the motu proprio Ecclesia Dei — a papal decree published by Pope John Paul II two days after those 1988 consecrations — to declare that such ordinations are “a schismatic act.” This implies a formal separation from the Catholic Church, a claim the FSSPX consistently denies.
He further explained that “formal adherence to the schism constitutes a grave offense against God and entails the excommunication established under Church law.”
A final attempt at conciliation
Finally, Cardinal Fernández added that Pope Leo XIV, who hasn't met with the FSSPX leadership, “continues in his prayers to ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten those responsible for the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X so that they may reconsider the extremely grave decision they have taken.”
According to a Vatican source, this communication is a final attempt at conciliation by the Holy See as the date of the ordinations — coming up on July 1 — draws near.
