Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Pope Francis: "The SSPX are Catholics on the path to full communion"

"Pope Francis speaks: "The Society of St. Piux X are Catholics on the path to full communion" (Rorate Caeli, May 16, 2016), via La Croix. Excerpt:
La Croix: You received, on the past April 1st, Bp. Bernard Fellay, Superior-General of the Society of Saint Pius X. Is the reintegration of the Lefebvrists in the Church once again being considered?

Pope Francis: In Buenos Aires, I always spoke with them. They saluted me, they asked for [my] blessing on their knees. They consider themselves Catholic. They love the Church. Bp. Fellay is a man with whom we can dialogue. It is not the case of other somewhat strange elements, such as Bp. Williamson, or others who have radicalized. I think, as I had expressed in Argentina, that they are Catholics on the path to full communion. During this Year of Mercy, it seemed that I should authorize their confessors to pardon the sin of abortion.[*] They thanked me for this gesture. Before that, Benedict XVI, whom they respect greatly, had liberalized the Mass according to the Tridentine Rite. We dialogue well, we do a good work.
It seems one can expect just about anything from this pontificate. In the meantime, our correspondent, Guy Noir, asks whether this is in fact newsworthy, stating that he isn't sure. "I'd be interested in what Fellay says about Francis!" he writes, "Does that make me heretical?" Funny man.

6 comments:

Catholic Mission said...


There is still hope that the SSPX can turn things around without compromising on Vatican Council II ( interpreted with the irrrational premise and conclusion)
http://eucharistandmission.blogspot.it/2016/05/there-is-still-hope-that-sspx-can-turn.html

c matt said...

Confusing, as usual. How can one be Catholic, yet only "on the road to full communion?" Not sure what that means.

Anonymous said...

HAD LIBERALISED THE MASS ACCORDING TO THE TRIDENTINE RITE! HUH!

Hamilton Burger said...

Helterskelter I is attempting to drive a wedge through the largest and most influential group of traditionalist Catholics. He seems to be having some success.

Why do people drive wedges anyway? Does such a question really need to be discussed?

Here's another question: are traditionalists terminally stupid people? Perhaps we are about to find out.

c matt said...

Personally, I think Francis' plan is to keep them permanently on the path. Dialogue, his specialty, can make the path interminably long. He cannot deny they are Catholic, but he can keep them in communion limbo. It is diabolically brilliant.

Pertinacious Papist said...

ABS, it would be interesting indeed to hear what Mr. Ferrara would say by way of response.

I trust you are right about his amicable disposition.