DICASTERY FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
Prot. N. 99/2009
DECREE
Notwithstanding the warnings addressed to the Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X, Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta, having committed an act of a schismatic nature by means of the episcopal consecration of four priests, without a pontifical mandate and against the will of the Supreme Pontiff, has incurred ipso facto the penalties provided for by can. 1387 and can. 1364 § 1 CIC 2021.
I therefore declare for all juridical purposes that both the aforementioned Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta and Pascal Schreiber, Michael Goldade, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry, and Marc Hanappier have incurred ipso facto the latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See.
I further declare that Bishop Bernard Fellay, having directly participated in the liturgical celebration as co-consecrator, and having thereby publicly adhered to the schismatic act, has incurred the latae sententiae excommunication provided for by can. 1364 § 1 CIC 2021.
Clerics and lay faithful are warned not to adhere to the schism of the Society of Saint Pius X, as they would thereby incur ipso facto the penalty of latae sententiae excommunication.
From the Palace of the Dicastery, July 2, 2026
Víctor M. Card. Fernández
Prefect
Archbishop Armando Matteo
Secretary for the Doctrinal Section
John J. Kennedy
Titular Archbishop of Ossero Secretary for the Disciplinary Section
DICASTERY FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
Prot. N. 99/2009
EXPLANATORY NOTE
From the time of Pope Paul VI up to the most recent conversations held at this Dicastery, the many attempts to bring the adherents of the movement initiated by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre back to full communion with the Catholic Church have proven fruitless. This situation has been further aggravated by the recent episcopal consecrations celebrated without a pontifical mandate, against the will of the Holy Father, in open violation of canon law.
Accordingly, this Dicastery, in the faithful exercise of the functions entrusted to it, considers it necessary to note that this act has constituted the offense of schism, with the resulting canonical consequences for the sacred ministers and lay faithful involved. Indeed, as was already declared in 1988, "such disobedience — which carries with it a practical rejection of the Roman Primacy — constitutes a schismatic act" (cf. John Paul II, Apost. Letter Ecclesia Dei, 3).
In this regard, henceforth:
1. The sacred ministers belonging to the Society of Saint Pius X are in schism and must therefore be considered schismatics (cf. Ecclesia Dei, 5c; Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, Explanatory Note on the excommunication for schism incurred by adherents of the movement of Bishop Marcel Lefebvre, 24.08.1996, 5–6), and are subject to the excommunication provided for by law (can. 1364 § 1 CIC).
2. With regard to the lay faithful, those who formally adhere to the Society of Saint Pius X under the conditions established in the Explanatory Note of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts of 1996 (cf. ibid., 7) — still in force, and hereby adopted by this Dicastery — are to be considered schismatics and excommunicated.
3. The holy People of God is hereby informed that the sacred ministers of the Society of Saint Pius X administer the sacraments illicitly, and that the sacrament of penance administered by them and the marriages they assist at are invalid.
The Church, as a devoted mother, will receive with sincere affection and eager care all those who desire to return to full communion. The Apostolic Nuncios will have at their disposal the procedures that Ordinaries may employ in the various cases.
Finally, all the faithful are exhorted to remain firm in communion with the Roman Pontiff, with the bishops in communion with him, and with the whole Church (cf. Lumen Gentium, 22; can. 751 CIC), and to refrain from participating in the celebrations and activities promoted by the aforementioned Society of Saint Pius X.
From the Palace of the Dicastery, July 2, 2026
Víctor M. Card. Fernández
Prefect
Archbishop Armando Matteo
Secretary for the Doctrinal Section
John J. Kennedy
Titular Archbishop of Ossero Secretary for the Disciplinary Section
DECRETO
Nonostante le ammonizioni rivolte al Superiore Generale della Fraternità Sacerdotale San Pio X, il Vescovo Alfonso de Galarreta, avendo compiuto un atto di natura scismatica mediante la consacrazione episcopale di quattro presbiteri, senza mandato pontificio e contro la volontà del Sommo Pontefice, è incorso ipso facto nelle pene previste dal can. 1387 e dal can. 1364 § 1 CIC 2021.
Dichiaro dunque a tutti gli effetti giuridici che sia il suddetto Vescovo Alfonso de Galarreta sia Pascal Schreiber, Michael Goldade, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry e Marc Hanappier sono incorsi ipso facto nella scomunica latae sententiae riservata alla Sede Apostolica.
Dichiaro inoltre che il Vescovo Bernard Fellay, avendo partecipato direttamente alla celebrazione liturgica come conconsacrante, avendo così aderito pubblicamente all'atto scismatico, è incorso nella scomunica latae sententiae prevista dal can. 1364 § 1 CIC 2021.
Si ammoniscono i chierici e i fedeli laici a non aderire allo scisma della Fraternità Sacerdotale San Pio X, perché incorrerebbero ipso facto nella pena della scomunica latae sententiae.
Dal Palazzo del Dicastero, 2 luglio 2026
Víctor M. Card. Fernández
Prefetto
