From today's Il Giornale, reporting on the proceedings of the Consistory of Cardinals taking place in the Vatican:
The Schism Unsettles the Consistory: "We Must Respond to the Lefebvrians"
Leo XIV had asked the cardinals for candor. And some took him at his word. As we can reveal, although the agenda had made no mention of the imminent Lefebvrian schism, a cardinal took it upon himself — already on the first day of proceedings — to use the time set aside for personal interventions to name the elephant in the room: the Society of Saint Pius X's open challenge to Rome.
The Intervention
On the eve of the Consistory, the Society founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre threw down yet another gauntlet to the Pope and the cardinals by sending them a profession of faith that effectively accuses Rome of having deviated from Tradition and from the perennial Magisterium. This accusation was one that Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, former Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, invited those present to reject outright. Hence his suggestion that a formal response to the Lefebvrians be drafted, asserting that Rome has never abandoned the path of Tradition — contrary to what the Society maintains. This intervention carries even greater weight when one considers that the German cardinal had headed the very dicastery that will now have to deal with the rupture.
A New Ecclesia Dei
The intervention also addressed the consequences of one of the scenarios we anticipated in recent days: the declaration of schism following the unauthorized episcopal consecrations will likely lead a number of Lefebvrians to seek a return to Rome. The cardinal therefore stressed the need to prepare to receive them, proposing a structure modeled on the Pontifical Commission *Ecclesia Dei* — established in 1988 by John Paul II to welcome those who wished to return to full communion with Rome following Archbishop Lefebvre's illicit consecrations. The reception of those who will leave the Society is a matter of keen concern, and one to which the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith is already attentive.
Within Lefebvrian circles there is considerable anxiety over the prospect of an excommunication that, unlike thirty-eight years ago, might not be limited solely to the consecrating and consecrated bishops. Were it to affect only them, for example, it would not touch Davide Pagliarani, Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X and chief proponent of the hardline position. In any case, no certainty currently exists regarding the precise form the response from the former Holy Office will take, but it is expected that a number of priests, religious men and women will leave the schismatic body and seek to return to full communion with Rome.
Liturgy
Thanks to the work carried out at the time by the Pontifical Commission *Ecclesia Dei*, institutes now exist within the Church — in full communion with Rome — that celebrate the ancient liturgy while accepting the Second Vatican Council. The *Ecclesia Dei* Commission was suppressed in 2019 by Francis.
In 2021, further restrictions on these celebrations were introduced through *Traditionis Custodes*. Today, however, a line of greater tolerance appears to be prevailing within the College of Cardinals — not least because, as Vatican journalist Diane Montagna revealed approximately a year ago, the majority of bishops consulted prior to the introduction of that measure had expressed opposition to the restrictions.
Cardinal Müller's intervention was received in complete silence, as were the other interventions. Yet at the close of proceedings — according to information obtained — several cardinals of varying orientations appeared to be in agreement, and many expressed appreciation for the frankness of the cardinal, one of the most authoritative figures in the College both by scholarly formation and ecclesiastical career.
(Source, in Italian)
