In the interview that Fr. Davide Pagliarani gave to FSSPX.News, on February 2, 2026, about the upcoming episcopal consecrations, we read: "The Holy See is sometimes able to show a certain pragmatism, even an astonishing flexibility, when it is convinced of acting for the good of souls."
The following is an article by Fr. Alain Lorans, SSPX.
In support of this statement, the Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X reports two facts drawn from the particularly disconcerting relations between the Vatican and communist China.
In 2023, Pope Francis approved a posteriori the appointment of the bishop of Shanghai by the Chinese authorities.
"More recently, Pope Leo XIV himself ended up accepting a posteriori the appointment of the bishop of Xinxiang, appointed in the same way during the vacancy of the Apostolic See, while the bishop faithful to Rome, several times imprisoned, was still in charge." This is no surprise to anyone: the atheist government in Beijing wants at all costs to "sinise" Catholicism, with a clergy docile to the instructions of the Party. The Vatican knows it, and it is silent.
In response to this situation, the Spanish-speaking site Infovaticana stated on February 3: “When it is the Communist Party that consecrates, we talk about a 'complex context'. When it is the Society of Saint Pius X that consecrates, we talk about 'rupture'.”
And with solid common sense, he added: "It is difficult to explain to a faithful why Beijing can impose bishops who are subject to the regime and pursue a privileged dialogue with Rome, while a society born precisely from the post-conciliar doctrinal and liturgical collapse is treated as a threat to the ecclesial order."
Further on, Infovaticana notes: "The Society does not work in a vacuum. It works in a context where Rome listens a lot, promises little and guarantees almost nothing. Now, when stable access to the sacraments depends on the mood of the local bishop, decisions cease to be ideological and become decisions of pastoral survival. This is the state of necessity.”
Finally, the Spanish-speaking site asks Rome to be logical: “If the ultimate criterion is pragmatic tolerance to avoid greater harm, then it should be applied consistently.
If one accepts the Chinese Communist Party appointing bishops in order not to lose a means of dialogue, it is intellectually dishonest to be indignant that a Catholic society would consecrate bishops so as not to deprive its faithful of confirmations and ordinations.”
This paradoxical situation prompts us to ask ourselves whether, in a concrete way, the future bishops of the Society of Saint Pius X must – in order not to be excommunicated – exchange the Roman collar for the Mao collar, carry the card of the Chinese Communist Party and be consecrated in Beijing.
May Rome say bluntly to all the Catholic faithful why what is possible in Beijing is impossible in Écône.