VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) — Pope Leo has made a public appeal to the head of the traditionalist Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) not to carry out the episcopal consecrations planned for tomorrow, July 1.
This morning, June 30, Pope Leo released a letter to Father Davide Pagliarani, the current head of the SSPX, his bishops, priests and seminarians, as well as the lay faithful “connected” to the Society, warning that the consecrations would be a “schismatic act.” [Full letter printed below.]
“I plead with you and ask you with all my heart: please turn back!” the Pontiff wrote.
“I urge you to consider carefully the spiritual good of the faithful, because the schismatic act you are about to undertake would deprive them of the licit and, in some cases, even valid reception of the Sacraments, which they love and seek for their sanctification.”
In his letter, Pope Leo said that “to tear the seamless garment of Christ”–meaning the Catholic Church–“is a sin of extreme gravity.”
He also stated, “The Church is open to a path of dialogue and understanding that the Holy Spirit can make possible and fruitful.” He has not, however, offered to meet with Fr. Pagliarani. This task was left to Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, current Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, who was recently revealed to have written an essay supporting the heresy of universalism. He met with the SSPX superior general this February.
Pope Leo’s tone is a marked contrast to his cordiality towards other Christians with whom he has disagreements, notably Sarah Mullally, the head of the schismatic Anglican Communion. It is also a contrast to the attitude of his predecessor Pope Francis towards the SSPX, for the Argentinian Pontiff granted the Society both official permission to hear confessions and to assist at weddings.
LifeSiteNews’ Editor-in-Chief John-Henry Westen is in Êcone, Switzerland, where he will attend the July 1 episcopal consecrations.
RELATED: Pope Leo told Anglicans ‘we are already one.’ So what about Latin Mass Catholics?
The SSPX, which was founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in 1970, believes that the Catholic Church is in a state of emergency, or “state of necessity,” and it is called to preserve the Catholic faith, whole and entire, preaching and giving the sacraments to the faithful, even without the permission of local ordinaries.
As there are now only two SSPX bishops alive today, Bishops Bernard Fellay and Alfonso de Galarreta, both 68 years old, the Society has approached the Vatican for permission to ordain new bishops. The Vatican has withheld permission, even though, as Pope Leo acknowledges in his letter, the “Church recognizes the devotion to liturgical life, commitment to priestly formation, apostolic zeal and desire for fidelity to Tradition that characterize many people and communities connected to your Fraternity.”
The current situation recalls that of Archbishop Lefebvre in 1988 when, after repeated–and fruitless–requests to Pope John Paul II for permission to consecrate bishops, he decided to ordain four bishops for the Society. These were Bernard Fellay, Alfonso de Galarreta, Richard Williamson, and Bernard Tissier de Mallerais. The Vatican announced the next day that the new bishops, Archbishop Lefebvre and his co-consecrator Bishop Antônio de Castro Mayer had incurred excommunication.
RELATED: SSPX ordains new deacons, priests in ‘beautiful and reverent ceremony
LETTER OF POPE LEO XIV
TO THE REVEREND DAVIDE PAGLIARANI
SUPERIOR GENERAL
OF THE PRIESTLY FRATERNITY OF SAINT PIUS X
With a paternal heart, and aware of the responsibility entrusted to me by the Lord as the Successor of the Apostle Peter, I address you and, through you, the bishops, priests, seminarians and faithful connected to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X.
The Church recognizes the devotion to liturgical life, commitment to priestly formation, apostolic zeal and desire for fidelity to Tradition that characterize many people and communities connected to your Fraternity. This has motivated the attentive and generous attitude that my Predecessors have consistently shown to you.
In this spirit, and filled with Christian affection, I plead with you and ask you with all my heart: please turn back! I urge you to consider carefully the spiritual good of the faithful, because the schismatic act you are about to undertake would deprive them of the licit and, in some cases, even valid reception of the Sacraments, which they love and seek for their sanctification.
The Church is open to a path of dialogue and understanding that the Holy Spirit can make possible and fruitful.
I pray for you, because to tear the seamless garment of Christ is a sin of extreme gravity. May the Lord enlighten your consciences and awaken your hearts. With a sorrowful yet hopeful heart, I feel it is my duty, through the authority received from Christ, to ask you to desist from your intended act. I entrust these intentions to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Good Counsel.
From the Vatican, 29 June 2026
Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
Updated.