The Superior General of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (FSSPX), Don Davide Pagliarani, has addressed this June 30 a letter of response to Pope Leo XIV following the latter’s message sent barely 24 hours before the episcopal consecrations.
In it he thanks the Pontiff for his “paternal solicitude” and filially asks him to take “the time this discernment requires” before making any decision regarding the Fraternity, insisting that “it is not too late.”
Pagliarani rejects in his letter any intention of separating from Rome and affirms that the FSSPX wishes to serve the Church “by extraordinary means.”
He recalls that the Fraternity was already declared schismatic in 1988 “for reasons and in circumstances absolutely analogous to those of today” and maintains that the very paternal tone of the present dialogue would demonstrate that it is neither schismatic nor hostile to the Church.
He also cites the testimonies of Bishop Vitus Huonder, emeritus bishop of Chur, now deceased, and of Bishop Athanasius Schneider, auxiliary bishop of Astana, who were sent by Rome to dialogue with the Fraternity and who at the time recognized its “deeply Catholic spirit.”
The response comes in a context in which the fact that the Pope’s first message was issued barely 24 hours before the episcopal consecrations scheduled in Écône for July 1 has not gone unnoticed — and has caused some astonishment.
Full text of the Superior General’s letter in response to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV
Most Holy Father:
Please accept my most sincere thanks for the letter you have kindly addressed to me.
I have been deeply moved by Your paternal solicitude.
For some time I had wished for the opportunity to meet with You in order to express personally our sincere desire to serve the Church. Unfortunately, that opportunity has not arisen.
I simply ask You to consider the authenticity of this intention, which is in no way feigned.
Paradoxically, in the present context it seems to us that it is precisely our duty to do everything possible to mend the torn tunic of Christ, rent by forces and pressures incompatible with an authentically Catholic spirit. I simply ask You to consider the authenticity of this intention before making any decision regarding the FSSPX. It is not too late.
Far from us is the idea of separating from the Roman Church; on the contrary, we wish to serve her by extraordinary means, as one comes to the aid of a mother in difficulty who needs particular help, even if this is not understood by all. But I am certain that the Holy Father could understand it. The Holy See has already shown that it can understand very complex situations and take the necessary time.
I therefore venture to ask You filially to take the time this discernment requires.
If my words were not enough, I would ask You to reflect on two very simple facts. First, the Fraternity was already declared schismatic in 1988, for reasons and in circumstances absolutely analogous to those of today; and yet, after so many years, we speak to one another as a father to his son. Your Holiness paternally exhorts me to avoid a schism that, theoretically, would already have taken place. Does Your Holiness not think that this very attitude, whose solicitude I deeply appreciate, constitutes precisely the proof that the Fraternity is neither schismatic nor hostile to the Church?
Secondly, some years ago the Holy See entrusted two bishops of the Church with the mission of dialoguing with the FSSPX: Bishop Vitus Huonder, then bishop of Chur, now deceased, and Bishop Athanasius Schneider, auxiliary bishop of Astana. Both, after taking the necessary time for discernment, recognized the deeply Catholic spirit of the Fraternity and gave public testimony of it.
Above all, however, I venture to address Your Holiness in the name of the thousands of souls who have recovered the Catholic faith and religious practice thanks to the apostolate of the Fraternity. This is a fact that Your predecessors themselves took note of. These souls have but one desire: to attain salvation through this instrument which Providence has placed at their disposal. They have suffered and are sincere. I am certain that Your paternal heart as universal Pastor will be sensitive to this very particular situation. One day, all the difficulties between the Holy See and the Fraternity will be resolved. A gesture of understanding on Your part, far from harming unity, could only manifest to the eyes of the world and of all Christians Your concern for unity and Your fatherly goodness.
I leave all this to Your benevolent consideration. I renew my prayer for Your Holiness.
For some time, even before Your election, I have been praying to Saint Rita for the present situation. I saw in the election of an Augustinian Pope a sign of hope.
I am certain that the saint will intercede. It is never too late.
I beg You to kindly grant us Your blessing.
And I take this opportunity to renew to You the expression of my deepest affection in the Lord.
Don Davide Pagliarani