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| Riddes, Canton of Valais, Switzerland, where the district of Écône is located |
Most Traditional Catholics are familiar with these aspects, but, since we have many new readers these days, this seems appropriate.
Schism, Excommunication… What Are the Stakes of the SSPX Ordinations?
By I.MEDIA at Cath.ch
June 26, 2026
[Written] with the canonical expertise of Pierre Chaffard-Luçon
Why do the new episcopal consecrations announced by the Society of Saint Pius X for July 1, 2026 pose a problem? What will be the status of those involved? And what becomes of the situation of the priests and faithful connected to this traditionalist movement?
Main excerpts from Matteo Matzuzzi's piece for today's Il Foglio:
The Schism at the Bottom Right
Never before have a Pope and the Lefebvrian Society been so close to the breaking point. The mistake was to underestimate Leo XIV: the Augustinians remember what their confrere Luther did when he broke the unity of the Church.
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.
Address of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on the Occasion of the Opening of the Extraordinary Consistory
(June 26–27, 2026)
June 26, 2026
Dear Brother Cardinals,
I welcome you and thank you from my heart for having once again accepted my invitation. Your presence manifests the solicitude for the whole Church that we share in the service of the People of God and of the mission entrusted to us by the Lord.
Most Reverend Eminences,
What is one to think, and what is one to do, in the face of the episcopal consecrations announced by the Society of Saint Pius X at Écône for July 1st, and the consequent latae sententiae excommunication that will be reaffirmed by the Holy See?
A guest article by Dr. Michaël Bauwens, University of Antwerp. As usual, we share this essay for the benefit of wider and deeper conversation, not as an official Rorate editorial position. ~PAK
The rising tensions concerning the scheduled episcopal consecrations by the SSPX and the announced ensuing excommunications by the Vatican have provoked a range of reactions – from pleas for ecclesial unity, obedience, leniency and pragmatism, to the intricacies of canon law, all the way to ideologically hardened hearts. These are pressing and legitimate ecclesial worries indeed, but the current situation shows that the roots of the problem are really doctrinal and theological, and are still far from being resolved.
In impromptu declarations to the press, yesterday (June 16, 2026):
“I am considering making another appeal and saying ‘don't do this, let's try to live the communion of the Church.’ But it is their choice.
Pope Leo's Successful Apostolic Journey to Spain:
Popular Piety and Orthodoxy, Yes. Partisan Progressivism, No.
As is well known, Pope Honoris I stated in a letter to Patriarch Sergius of Constantinople that “we confess one will of our Lord Jesus Christ”—despite the Church’s dogmatic teaching that Christ has both a divine will and a human will—and was posthumously anathematized by the Third Council of Constantinople.
What is not generally known, what is, in fact, virtually unknown, is that Pope John IV taught that Christ “never had two contrary wills [his human will being perfectly subordinate to his divine will] …we fittingly say and truthfully confess [in a metaphorical sense] one will” and that, therefore, Honorius’s letter was not intrinsically heretical its precise wording—because it did not state whether “one will” was meant literally or metaphorically.
A report from Italy:
We wanted to bring to your attention the story of a group of pilgrims traveling through Italy with a priest of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter.
From the pastoral letter written by Archbishop Anthony Fisher, OP, of Sydney, Australia, on the occasion of the Feast of Corpus Christi:
ADORING THE EUCHARISTIC LORD:
“LET US KNEEL BEFORE THE GOD WHO MADE US” (PS 94:6):
Pastoral Letter to the Priests, Religious, and People of the Archdiocese of Sydney
June 7, 2026
As I begin my visit to Spain, it is with a heart filled with joy that I preside over this celebration on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi.
You will have noticed that Rorate has covered all sides and most aspects of the July 1st, 2026, Consecrations of four new bishops for the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), in Écône, Switzerland.
By Bishop Athanasius Schneider
Recently, this blog published the now widely-discussed essay titled “The Kingship of Christ and the Aporias of the Roman Church.” Now the author applies the analysis of the “total Pope” and the corresponding concept of obedience to the Society of St. Pius X. Needless to say, the following text reflects the personal opinion of its author and is not a Rorate editorial position; rather, it may be seen as part of our ongoing coverage of the SSPX dilemma. - PAK
The Holy Father has appointed Dr. Maria Montserrat Alvarado, President and Chief Operating Officer of EWTN News, as Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication. Dr. Montserrat Alvarado will take office on 1 November.
The Recovery of the Mass
The media and, especially, social networks point out that in several European countries, particularly among young people, the "Traditional Mass" is being lived with fervor, accompanied by numerous processions and pilgrimages. The youthful crowds that revived the traditional Paris - Chartres pilgrimage have drawn widespread attention, with an average age of 22. It is a recovery of Catholic tradition, which had been suffocated in those countries by liberalism, progressivism, and atheism.
for Rorate Caeli
Pope Leo Has Finally Released His First Encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas
Pope Leo has finally released his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, to the world. As expected, it deals with AI and technological innovation. Surprisingly, however, it also deals extensively with a variety of other social topics and tips Pope Leo's hand just a bit on multiple divisive issues.
The General House Announces the Names of Future Bishops
Published May 26, 2026
Communiqué from the General House
On this octave of Pentecost, Fr. Davide Pagliarani, Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), has the joy of announcing the names of the priests of the Society who have been chosen to receive episcopal consecration on July 1st at Écône.
Tradition and Reform in the Roman Rite: The Usus Antiquior in Contemporary Catholicism
Thursday 22nd – Friday 23rd October 2026
This conference aims to provide a rigorous, interdisciplinary investigation of the tensions between tradition and reform within the Roman Rite, with particular attention to the renewed interest in the pre‑Vatican II liturgy (usus antiquior) in contemporary Catholicism. Moving beyond ideological polarizations, the conference accepts papers that deepen scholarly understanding of how liturgical forms function historically, socially, and theologically in the life of the Church.
ENCYCLICAL LETTER
MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS
OF HIS HOLINESS
POPE LEO XIV
ON SAFEGUARDING THE HUMAN PERSON
IN THE TIME OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
INTRODUCTION
The Bergoglian camp is in chaos over the Society of Saint Pius X and the episcopal consecrations it has announced for July 1st, with the consequent threat of excommunication from the Vatican.
On Monday, 18 May, 2026, the two heads of Churches held a private meeting where they addressed the following issues: the establishment of a common date for Easter, a day of commemoration for all martyrs, and the convening of a Third Vatican Council.
Full text:
for Rorate Caeli
Pope Leo XIII is a widely known but not widely grasped Pope. Pope Leo XIV took his name (in part) as a tribute to Leo XIII. This instantly resulted in a renewed focus on Pope Leo XIII as the Pope who started addressing so called social issues with Rerum Novarum in 1891 and who cared about dealing with new developments in the world. This basic picture is true, but much is missing or misinterpreted in how Leo XIII is often described nowadays.
The first International Fátima Gregorian Chant Workshop will take place form 17th to 20th September, 2026, with days filled with practical and theoretical lessons in chant for beginner and advanced participants, vocal coaching, daily sung Mass the participants rehearse for, plus a tour of the Shrine of Fatima’s organ - the largest organ in the Iberian Peninsula, with shrine’s principal organist Sílvio Carreira Vicente.
The SSPX Is Explicitly Developing an Ecclesiology of Substitution Foreign to Catholic Tradition
Interview granted to French website Le Salon Beige
It's here -- and, in order to view it in different languages, you may just switch the language icon on the top.
Catholic Social Teachings before Vatican II
by Serre Verweij
Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical is due to be released and almost certain to become a valuable addition to the collection of papal encyclicals dealing with social issues. This was to be expected, as he took the name Leo XIV as a reference to Pope Leo XIII, who became famous as the Pope who established Catholic Social Teaching (CST) through his encyclical Rerum Novarum in 1891. Pope Leo's teachings, and the tradition based on it, have unfortunately been frequently misunderstood or misrepresented, especially since the Second Vatican Council.
[Cf. Vatican statement, May 13, 2026]
Declaration of Catholic Faith addressed to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV by Fr. Davide Pagliarani Superior General of the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X
May 14, 2026