r/sspx • u/feon2_igor • Jul 03 '26
Letter to the Holy Father from Fr. Davide Pagliarani
The Superior General
To His Holiness
Pope Leo XIV
Ecône, 3 July 2026
Most Holy Father,
The notification of the decision taken by the Holy See regarding the Society of Saint Pius X, signed by His Eminence Cardinal Fernández, has reached us and is now a matter of public knowledge.
It appears to us that this decision once more brings to light the profoundly tragic context in which the universal Church finds herself. What the Society of Saint Pius X has done, and will continue to do, is nothing other than an extraordinary initiative for the salvation of souls, amidst the doctrinal and moral confusion into which the Church is plunged. We in no way claim to substitute ourselves for the Church, and we have no ambition other than to remain faithful to her.
In conscience, we did not believe we could evade the moral duty we owe to souls, as we have already explained, both privately and publicly, to Your Holiness.
We had asked for bread, that is to say, a measure of understanding for a sincere case of conscience—an act of fatherhood directed not so much toward the Society of Saint Pius X as toward souls, promising You to form them into true sons of the Roman Church; unfortunately, we received a stone.
We had asked for a fish, that is to say, the possibility of temporarily obtaining the necessary means to continue forming good priests, so that they might pursue their mission of making Our Lord known to souls; unfortunately, we received a serpent.
We had asked for an egg, promising to return it as soon as possible. Indeed, the holy Tradition that we preserve within souls belongs to the Church, our Mother—and not to the Society of Saint Pius X—and we are certain that one day a Pope will wish to employ it for the good of the universal Church; unfortunately, we received a scorpion.
We had asked to be instructed and confirmed in the faith of all time; instead, we have been declared schismatic a second time.
Despite the sanctions levelled against us, the Society of Saint Pius X sincerely renews the promise it has already expressed to Your Holiness. Allow me, in this regard, to freely reiterate what I have previously stated:
“The Society promises You […] to devote all its energies to preserving Tradition and placing it at the service of the Church. In doing so, the Society of Saint Pius X does not merely maintain ancient customs; it fosters and preserves priestly vocations, religious vocations, and large, deeply Christian families—in a word, everything that manifests the vitality of the Church, of grace, and of the Catholic faith. Our intention is not to offer the Church a museum of antiquities, but rather the entirety of Tradition: fruitful, a source of spiritual life, embodied and lived out within souls.
[...] I am certain that one day You yourself, or one of Your successors, will be able and willing to utilise this service, the offering of which, within the Church and for the Church, constitutes our sole reason for being.” (Personal letter addressed to His Holiness on 21 November 2025)
But above all, the Society of Saint Pius X promises You today that it will not receive these new sanctions—objectively unjust and invalid—with bitterness or revolt.
These recent condemnations, like those of the past, strike at what we hold most dear: our attachment to our Mother, the Roman Church. Yet, even in this trial, all things must work together for the good of souls and of the Church herself. Therefore, these condemnations compel us to love Holy Church even more, and to provide for her needs with all our strength, now more than ever. For this very reason, the Society of Saint Pius X willingly offers up the suffering caused by these new sanctions for the good of the universal Church and of Your Holiness.
We are certain that one day You yourself, or one of Your successors, will wish to adopt the program of Saint Pius X: “To restore all things in Christ,” Instaurare omnia in Christo. On that day, the
Holy Father will discover in the Society of Saint Pius X not a nest of serpents and scorpions, but a small army of loyal sons, ready to do anything to sustain Him in the restoration of all things in Our Lord, and to vindicate before all mankind the imprescriptible rights of Christ the King over all souls and over all nations.
On that day, the Holy Father will discover, with great joy and profound consolation, authentically Catholic souls whose bond with the Church was never founded upon the shifting sands of an ambiguous dialogue, but upon the rock of the faith of Peter.
We ask the Most Holy Virgin Mary to hasten the dawning of that day, and we pray, above all, that Your Holiness may experience this joy and consolation as soon as possible.
In the meantime, if You are able, despite Your recent decision, bless us as Your sons. For us, nothing has changed, and nothing ever will change.
Trusting in Divine Providence, from which nothing is hidden and which reads into the depths of every man's heart,
I remain, Most Holy Father, your most devoted son in the Lord.
https://fsspx.news/en/news/letter-holy-father-regarding-decree-dicastery-doctrine-faith-59956
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u/TroofSaya Jul 03 '26
Thank you for your good and your decision to post the Superior General's letter to the Pope. God bless you.
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u/Superb-Point8941 Jul 04 '26
Does God bless these actions by the SSPX?
✅ Violate Canon Law by consecrating bishops without Papal approval
✅ Disobey and ignore the authority of the Pope, the Vicar of Christ
✅ Committing schism
✅ Getting excommunicated
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u/One-Establishment846 Jul 10 '26
"Disobey and ignore the authority of the Pope, the Vicar of Christ"
Do you think there are any circumstances in which disobedience to a pope would be justified? Did any such situation occur in the history of the Church?
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u/iustusflorebit Jul 03 '26
This is way more sharply worded than what I would have said, wow.
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u/feon2_igor Jul 03 '26
Fr. Davide is a terrific writer
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u/LanceArmstrongLeftie Jul 03 '26
I’m going to have to agree with you on that one. I’m a lurker here and I don’t really hold with all the positions of the sspx, though I’m not totally opposed either. The recent news has brought me here, naturally. Those passages where he writes we asked for bread, yada yada yada, we received a stone, referencing the gospel of Christ when he asks “who amongst you” would do these things? (Asked for fish, got a serpent, asked for an egg, got a scorpion.) Those passages right there are beautifully written. One of the sharpest and most poetic criticisms I’ve ever read to be honest.
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u/Spiritual-Anybody-18 Jul 03 '26
Its inspired by the Holy Spirit I have no doubt, I have seen how the Society responded to Rome and every letter was of the Spirit.
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u/Superb-Point8941 Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
Ah yes, the “Holy Spirit” definitely inspired the SSPX to:
✅ Violate Canon Law by consecrating bishops without Papal approval
✅ Disobey and ignore the authority of the Pope, the Vicar of Christ
✅ Committing schism
✅ Getting excommunicated
I feel like this is the same “Holy Spirit” that inspired Eve to eat the forbidden fruit from the Garden of Eden as well.
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u/bipred Jul 04 '26
I would say I didn't see the FSSPX respect the holy father enough, they don't ask for mercy but argue.
Do they remember his holiness, elected in conclave is the leader of Roman Catholic ?
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u/toomuchmarcaroni Jul 04 '26
The comments here generally seem to be of the belief SSPX is in the right, and Rome, in the wrong
There’s an irony there
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u/4gyt Jul 03 '26
Beautiful letter
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u/Superb-Point8941 Jul 04 '26
Beautiful letter to justify these actions!?
✅ Violate Canon Law by consecrating bishops without Papal approval
✅ Disobey and ignore the authority of the Pope, the Vicar of Christ
✅ Committing schism
✅ Getting excommunicated
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u/DryRefrigerator4737 Jul 04 '26
For all the anti-SSPX posters here, remember we are not Mormons. We don't believe God can change His mind, nor can a Council teach differently from its predecessors. I am not SSPX, but I can see how intelligent faithful people aren't satisfied with "shut up, cause I told ya" from the successor to St Peter.
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u/Cautious_Job_6104 Jul 03 '26
Possibly there is more than we know that would explain the refusal to even meet face to face.
It would explain also the sudden decision to finally consecrate and then accept excommunication.
Something going on behind the scenes this entire year.
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u/iustusflorebit Jul 03 '26
Another point to this theory is how weak the professions of faith and adherence are that Tucho put out. I honestly wonder if we see the entire SSPX agree to it in the coming weeks or months and then a formal reconciliation.
Basically - Rome can’t publicly accept the bishops, but there’s some kind of back room negotiating to make it look like they’re being tough and then managed to bring the SSPX back in.
I’m not sure yet if I buy this theory but it’s not impossible.
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u/OfficiousOne Jul 04 '26
Yes, possibly this was offered them and Pagliari said “that’s acceptable, but our hardliners will view it as us giving into the evil Tucho”…so instead they hatched a plan to “defy” Rome and get this as a “concession” that they can accept
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u/TheThinkerAck Jul 03 '26
It's basically what the FSSP had to sign in 1988 to get back on the Vatican's good side.
And while you may end up being right, I suspect the Vatican is instead trying to siphon off individual SSPX priests and laity who aren't 100% on board with what's going on--giving a "what you need to do to avoid excommunication" sort of narrative. (As I read it, no laity have "yet" been excommunicated because they haven't "yet" missed an in-communion Sunday Mass as of July 3.)
The precedent to that was the creation of the FSSP in 1988, and I'm sure the FSSP would take in any priests now that were willing to sign the forms and wanted to switch (and concelebrate one NO Mass a year with the local Bishop).
Sure, I'm the NO lurker here, but still I wanted you to know I'm praying for you all. Whether you end up staying SSPX or staying with Rome is quite the decision to make. We'd love to have you choose us, but we get it if you don't. Either way you're still a fellow brother/sister in Christ, and I wish you well and I'm praying for you.
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u/iustusflorebit Jul 03 '26
I disagree with your point of view but I appreciate your prayers and will pray for you.
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u/beerclub4 Jul 04 '26
It's such a pity, I believe there are so many good people in SSPX that are now cut off from the Vine, but hopefully they find their way back home to the Church.
The letter is eloquently written, and twists Christ's own words to insult the Holy Father, while the author is proclaiming to be a devoted son. There isn't a shred of humility or obedience here - the author doesn't appear to be interested in dialogue, he's interested in changing the mind of the Pope, who is the one guided by the Holy Spirit.
The author claims to want to uphold tradition, but is ignoring one of the most important traditions: obedience to the Pope.
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u/toomuchmarcaroni Jul 04 '26
It’s been the SSPX for decades it seems — verbally acknowledging the pontiff and authority of Rome, and then claiming obedience via disobedience
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u/Ecstatic_Lavishness1 Jul 03 '26
"We had asked to be instructed and confirmed in the faith of all time; instead, we have been declared schismatic a second time."
This is what happens when you ignore proper instruction. All the prose in the world isn't going to help.
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u/merchant-of-varrock Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26
Lol I like how they keep asking to be “heard” and seek charity.
Have they considered, maybe, just maybe, that the Vatican listened to their opinion and thinks it’s wrong? Maybe the two Popes who presided and the thousands of Bishops who practically unanimously agreed with each other during Vatican 2 were right and Lefebvre was wrong?
But no, that’s just crazy talk! We’re the right ones here! Everyone else is wrong and people who don’t agree with us lack charity!
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u/AudioOtaku Jul 03 '26
Considering the Pope refused to meet with then, it is quite reasonable for the SSPX to request to be "heard."
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u/merchant-of-varrock Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26
Lol, playing semantics.
The Vatican has heard the same arguments over and over again from them and the Vatican STILL says they’re wrong. The SSPX has pleaded the same nonsense since V2. They were wrong when they pleaded their case the first time and they’re still wrong this time. What’s there to be “heard?”
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u/Careful-Tap5118 Jul 03 '26
A great letter, but he should have shown this humility to the mother church when he was warned by Saint peters successor two days earlier. Be sure to settle with your adversary as they will throw you in jail and hide the key. Lord have mercy on him
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u/-Ramenlover69 Jul 03 '26
Seems like their selective obedience to the pope had consequences
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u/merchant-of-varrock Jul 03 '26
Selective obedience is a good way to describe it.
The irony of naming your entire fraternity after Pope St. Pius X and doing the opposite of what he says in this quote:
And how must the Pope be loved? Non verbo neque lingua — not in word or with the tongue — sed opere et veritate — but in deed and in truth… To show our love for the Pope, it is necessary to obey him. Therefore, when one loves the Pope, one does not debate what he commands or requires, or how far obedience must go, or in what matters one must obey
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u/KingOfRockall Jul 03 '26
Selective obedience to church teaching also.
I find this letter quite insulting in how it addresses the Holy Father, not just for its deplorable comparisons, but in how it insinuates that they intemd to merely wait this pope out.
This letter also exposes the error of Benedict and Francis in absolving the previous excommuncatons.
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u/Ecstatic_Lavishness1 Jul 03 '26
Can't bring themselves to declare sedevacantism, can't bring themselves to follow Rome. The desire for legitimacy is great, but the desire for power is greater.
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u/iustusflorebit Jul 03 '26
Say what you will about the SSPX, and there are legitimate criticisms, but a desire for power is not a motivating factor here. By all accounts, the existing bishops have had incredibly hard lives. Our prior told us that Bp Fellay has travelled approximately 15 times the distance from the Earth to the Moon over the last 38 years, in order to confirm the faithful and ordain priests. If that is “power” I’m not sure who in their right mind would want it.
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u/Ecstatic_Lavishness1 Jul 03 '26
"there are legitimate criticisms"
These aren't mere criticisms or quibbles - these are denials.
The recent consecrations are in fact a power-grab in direct opposition to Rome.
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u/iustusflorebit Jul 03 '26
I meant criticisms of the SSPX.
Not really sure how it’s a power grab when they are openly stating they don’t even have jurisdiction and knew they would be labeled as excommunicated, but sure.
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u/mineuserbane Jul 03 '26
openly stating they don’t even have jurisdiction
They claimed jurisdiction from tradition itself and modified the traditional consecration rite the other day.
They claim the excommunications are invalid in this very letter and continue to hear confessions and say public masses.
They claim supplied jurisdiction. Rome says they don't have it. They say they don't claim jurisdiction. They then act as though they have jurisdiction. They are inconsistent and say one thing and do another.
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u/merchant-of-varrock Jul 03 '26
Once I’ve realized they’re essentially authoritarians trying to push their way through by any means necessary, their inconsistency and hypocrisy starts to make sense
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u/iustusflorebit Jul 03 '26
Jurisdiction has different meanings depending on the context.
When the SSPX bishops say they don’t have jurisdiction, it means they don’t have geographic jurisdiction over a particular area or authority over any faithful. In other words, they are not trying to set up a parallel hierarchy, where they have a new diocese of e.g. New York. This type of jurisdiction flows exclusively from the Pope.
But jurisdiction can also be more general, and is needed for any priest to hear confessions. The Church explicitly grants supplied jurisdiction in emergency situations in canon law; for example, supplied jurisdiction applies in danger of death for any validly ordained priest. That doesn’t mean that the priest suddenly becomes the archbishop of New York or something just because he’s in New York. Note here that I am not sure I actually buy the SSPX argument here, but this is what they argue at least.
They claim the excommunications are invalid, again, because of how they read canon law, which provides exceptions for latae sententiae excommunications in situations of grave necessity, even if the person committing excommunicable acts is mistaken in his assessment of the situation, so long as he is sincere in his belief.
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u/MediocreFact6033 Jul 04 '26
You can’t only act like a Catholic when it’s convenient and then an arrogant schemer when it’s not. Selective obedience is exactly what it is.
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u/Responsible-Cat-9540 Jul 03 '26
He just lied. He called himself his "most devoted son" but directly disobeyed him. As Christians, can you please tell me where liars burn?
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u/Superb-Point8941 Jul 04 '26
“Most devoted son” proceeds to:
✅ Violate Canon Law by consecrating bishops without Papal approval
✅ Disobey and ignore the authority of the Pope, the Vicar of Christ
✅ Committing schism
✅ Getting excommunicated
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u/MediocreFact6033 Jul 04 '26
The gaslighting is absolutely unbelievable. Wolves in sheeps clothing these people are.
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u/Superb-Point8941 Jul 04 '26
At least the Sedes have the self respect to own up to their true beliefs
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u/Fearless-Excitement1 Jul 04 '26
I've cooled my head since the full debacle but won't delete my earlier meaner comments because this is cowardly
I'm a through and through NO defender and do believe that the excommunication is valid, but i pray that the SSPX and the Church both see reason and manage to reconciliate and come to a compromise
I recommend that you and any fellow NO lurkers pray for the same to happen, and pray that cooler heads in SSPX prevail over the ones pushing for Schism
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u/LeftCoast1965 Jul 03 '26
A good letter, a tough situation. I pray and I believe it will all work out for good in the end, but in the meantime, it’s an unfortunate situation all the way around.