POSITIVE GOOD NEWS FROM CARDINAL FERNANDEZ AND THE DDF CONCERNING THE FSSPX: SO FAR, SO GOOD—TIME WILL TELL…

The next step is for the FSSPX TO HUMBLY DELAY ANY EPISCOPAL ORDINATIONS. WILL THEY? Time will tell.

DICASTERY FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
COMMUNIQUÉ
Regarding the meeting between the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Superior General of the FSSPX

Regarding the meeting between the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Superior General of the FSSPX

On 12 February 2026, a cordial and sincere meeting took place at the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith between the Prefect, His Eminence Cardinal Víctor Manuel FERNÁNDEZ, and the Superior General of the FSSPX, Rev. Don Davide PAGLIARANI, with the approval of the Holy Father Leo XIV. After clarifying some points presented by the FSSPX in various letters, sent particularly in the years 2017–2019 – among others, the question of divine will regarding the plurality of religions was discussed – the Prefect proposed a path of dialogue specifically theological, with a precise methodology, regarding issues that have not yet been sufficiently clarified, such as: the difference between an act of faith and “religious assent of the mind and will,” or the different degrees of adherence required by the various texts of the Second Vatican Council and their interpretation. At the same time, he proposed to address a series of issues listed by the FSSPX in a letter dated 17 January 2019. The purpose of this path would be to highlight, in the issues debated, the minimum requirements for full communion with the Catholic Church and, consequently, to outline a canonical statute for the Fraternity, together with other aspects to be further explored. It was reiterated by the Holy See that the ordination of bishops without the mandate of the Holy Father, who holds supreme ordinary power, which is full, universal, immediate and direct (cf. CDC, can. 331; Dogmatic Constitution Pastor aeternus, chaps. I and III), would imply a decisive rupture of ecclesial communion (schism) with grave consequences for the Fraternity as a whole (JOHN PAUL I, Apostolic Letter Ecclesia Dei, 2 July 1988, nos. 3 and 5c; PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR LEGISLATIVE TEXTS, Explanatory Note, 24 August 1996, no. 1). Therefore, the possibility of carrying out this dialogue presupposes that the Fraternity suspend the decision of the announced episcopal ordinations. The Superior General of the FSSPX will present the proposal to his Council and give his response to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. In the event of a positive response, the steps, stages and procedures to be followed will be established by mutual agreement. The whole Church is asked to accompany this journey, especially in the coming times, with prayer to the Holy Spirit. He is the principal architect of the true ecclesial communion willed by Christ. +Victor Fernandez