Cardinal Fernandez warns SSPX that they must not ordain Bishops this summer

 

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Cardinal Fernández to Pius X Society: Ordaining new bishops is schismatic act

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, issues a new warning to the Society of St. Pius X against carrying out episcopal ordinations without a pontifical mandate, saying Pope Leo XIV continues to pray the Lefebvrians choose a different path.

Vatican News

The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (FSSPX), founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, has announced that it intends to carry out its plan to ordain new bishops without the pontifical mandate in July 2026, despite the Pope’s appeals.

On Wednesday, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued a statement to clarify several questions received, after bringing it to the attention of Pope Leo XIV.

The Pope wished to explicitly confirm his desire to continue praying that this new schismatic act may be avoided.

“I reiterate what has already been communicated,” stated Cardinal Fernández. “The episcopal ordinations announced by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X do not have the corresponding pontifical mandate. This action will constitute ‘a schismatic act’ (Pope St. John Paul II, Ecclesia Dei, no. 3), and ‘formal adherence to the schism constitutes a grave offense against God and entails the excommunication established by the law of the Church’ (ibid., 5c; cf. Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, Explanatory Note, 24 August 1996).”

“The Holy Father,” concluded the Cardinal Prefect, “continues in his prayers to ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten the leaders of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, so that they may retrace their steps regarding the extremely grave decision they have taken.”