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[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Schneider urges Pope Leo XIV: Grant ‘the episcopal consecrations of the SSPX’Vatican correspondent Diane Montagna publishes Bishop Athanasius Schneider's ‘Fraternal Appeal’ to Pope Leo, urging permission for the planned SSPX consecrations for the unity of the Church.Editor’s note: The following text is the full Fraternal Appeal of Bishop Athanasius Schneider to Pope Leo XIV on Vatican relations with the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X, originally published by Diane Montanga on February 24, 2026.(LifeSiteNews) — The current situation regarding the episcopal consecrations in the Priestly Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) has suddenly awakened the entire Church....

[Catholic Caucus] Five Wounds and One Hope: Msgr. Schneider Reveals Details of His Audience with Leo XIVBishop Athanasius Schneider, auxiliary bishop of Astana (Kazakhstan), has made public new details of the private audience he held with Leo XIV on December 18th last, in an interview with Robert Moynihan broadcast by Urbi et Orbi Communications. On this occasion, he delved into the diagnosis he presented to the Pope about the current situation of the Church, resuming some points he had already pointed out in January, when he alluded to the need for an Apostolic Constitution to guarantee liturgical peace.As he explained,...

Most Reverend Eminence, First of all, I thank you for receiving me on 12 February, and for making public the content of our meeting, which promotes perfect transparency in communication. I can only welcome the opening of a doctrinal discussion, as signalled today by the Holy See, for the simple reason that I myself proposed it exactly seven years ago, in a letter dated 17 January 2019.1 At that time, the Dicastery did not truly express interest in such a discussion, on the grounds—presented orally—that a doctrinal agreement between the Holy See and the Society of Saint Pius X was...

[Catholic Caucus] BREAKING: SSPX rejects Vatican call to halt consecrations, will proceed without papal approvalThe Society of St. Pius X rejected Cdl. Fernández's call to suspend the July 1 consecrations, insisting the state of ‘grave necessity’ demands action to preserve Catholic Tradition.The SSPX episcopal consecrations will go forward as planned.Today, February 19, Father Davide Pagliarani, the Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), published a communique, as well as a letter to Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández – and several annexes – to announce that the SSPX has decided to go ahead with the episcopal consecrations on July...

[Catholic Caucus] Why the SSPX Will Consecrate Bishops Without Rome’s Approval: Fr. de Lacoste ExplainsWhy would the SSPX consecrate bishops without Rome’s approval? In a powerful sermon from Ecône, Fr. Bernard de Lacoste explains why extraordinary measures are now necessary to preserve the Catholic Faith.In a sermon delivered on Sunday, February 8, in Ecône, Fr. Bernard de Lacoste, director of the St. Pius X Seminary, explained the necessity of the upcoming episcopal consecrations announced on February 2 by the Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X, Fr. Davide Pagliarani, and scheduled for July 1.Dear seminarians, dear faithful,Last Monday,...

[Catholic Caucus] Communiqué of the General House (FSSPX): interview in RomeThe interview, held one-on-one according to the Cardinal’s wish, lasted an hour and a half and took place in an atmosphere that was both cordial and frank. It allowed Father Pagliarani to listen carefully to the Prefect, and to specify the scope of the announcement of February 2, as well as the meaning of the steps taken with the Holy See in recent months.The Superior General was thus able to present orally the present situation of the Society of St. Pius X and its duty, in the year of the...

[Catholic Caucus] Op-Ed: Will the SSPX Reach an Agreement with Pope Leo XIV?The announcement of new episcopal consecrations within the Society of Saint Pius X, followed by a swift reaction from the Vatican, raises a question that has been returning for nearly four decades: can the "Lefebvrists" and the Pope reach a lasting agreement? This time, however, the context is entirely different from that of 1988—both doctrinally and ecclesially.The answer is yes—at least in the sense in which I pose the question. The title must be journalistic and provocative, but in reality the issue goes far deeper than a simple...

[Catholic Caucus] Latin Mass groups respond to SSPX consecration plans, appeal to Pope Leo, bishops for TLM accessUna Voce and the Latin Mass Society stressed to Pope Leo and the bishops that depriving the faithful of the traditional Mass can increase sympathy toward the SSPX’s arguments. Una Voce International (FIUV) and the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales issued a joint statement this week urging the Church hierarchy to end the restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass for the benefit of the faithful in light of the Society of St. Pius X’s (SSPX) plans to consecrate new bishops without...

[Catholic Caucus] The SSPX and the Question of Apostolic ContinuityThe current situation involving the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) has once again revealed a serious and unresolved reality within the Church – one that cannot be dismissed, delayed indefinitely, or answered with silence.In the years following the Council, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre acted under the conviction that essential elements of the Church’s life – the traditional priestly formation, the sacramental theology that shaped it, and the Mass that had nourished countless saints – were being abandoned or actively suppressed. The Society of St. Pius X arose from that crisis and,...

The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X has officially announced that it will proceed with new episcopal consecrations starting from July 1, 2026, a decision of enormous ecclesial significance that reopens one of the most delicate chapters in its relationship with the Holy See. The announcement was made public on February 2, the feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary, by the superior general of the Fraternity, Father Davide Pagliarani, during a ceremony held at the International Seminary of Saint Curé of Ars, in Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, France. According to the statement issued from the Fraternity’s General House, the decision has...

[Catholic Caucus] Pope Leo XIV Extends Apostolic Blessing to SSPX Chapel in North Carolina for Its 25th AnniversaryThe document reads:The Holy Father Leo XIV cordially imparts the requested Apostolic Blessing to Reverend Father John Bourbeau, FSSPX and Faithful of the Fraternitas Sacerdotalis Sancti Pii X of Saint Anthony of Padua Chapel on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Chapel invoking through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary an abundance of divine graces. Mount Holly, North Carolina, 22nd August 2025, Jubilaeum A.D. MMXXV. (Dated at the Vatican, November 18, 2025, and signed by Card. Konrad...

[Catholic Caucus] SSPX in Charlotte plans for new chapel to accommodate growth after Latin Mass suppressionThe Society of St. Pius X chapel on the outskirts of Charlotte has experienced slow but steady growth since Traditionis Custodes was published.An SSPX church on the outskirts of Charlotte, North Carolina is planning to build a new chapel due to growing numbers of attendees after the Latin Mass-suppressing orders of Traditionis Custodes.St. Anthony’s in Mount Holly, within the geographical bounds of the Diocese of Charlotte, announced last week that Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) leadership has green-lighted an effort to search for land...

[Catholic Caucus] The Rise and Rise of the Traditional Latin Mass PilgrimageAbove: the Chartres PilgrimageResurrected pilgrimages to some of the oldest Catholic nations’ most significant spiritual sites are continuing to surge in popularity among devotees of the Traditional Latin Mass.It’s quite something to behold. Every year, Europe’s ancient landscapes, where the Faith’s echoes linger in stone and song, the countryside moves with burgeoning numbers of (predominantly young) traditional pilgrims. The surroundings become marked by the soft cadence of prayers and the tread of pilgrims’ feet – in between the bellowing of folk songs and chant.Leading the way are France, Spain,...

[Catholic Caucus] To Hand on What Has Been Received: The Mission and Challenges of the SSPX in Our TimesA guest article by Charles Bradshaw.The SSPX’s recent pilgrimage to Rome has been the cause of some media attention not least because of mounting expectations regarding future Episcopal Consecrations. The inevitable skeletons have come out of the cupboard again alongside those who claim to have insight into just about everything Archbishop Lefebvre did or didn’t do. However, whilst the future consecrations remain a vitally important and pressing issue, what has been overlooked is how the Society of St Pius X is meeting...

[Catholic Caucus] Thousands of Catholics join SSPX Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Rome, process into St. Peter’s BasilicaOn August 19-21, the pilgrims entered the Holy Doors of first the Basilica of St. Mary Major, then St. John Latera's Basilica, and finally St. Peter's Basilica.Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) procession inside St. Peter's BasilicaLast week, nearly 8,000 Catholics from 44 countries joined the 680 clergy and religious of the traditional Priestly Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) on its pilgrimage to Rome on the occasion of the Jubilee Year 2025. On three different days, August 19-21, the pilgrims entered the Holy...

[Catholic Caucus] The SSPX Responds to Cardinal ArboreliusOpen Letter to Cardinal Arborelius in Response to the Statements of 15 August 2025Your Eminence,We have taken note of the two statements concerning our priestly fraternity that were made public by Your Eminence on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.Animated by the zeal for the salvation of souls and in the spirit of filial devotion to our Holy Mother the Church and Her institutions we would like to make our thoughts and intentions known in the form of an open letter that we hope will foster a greater understanding...

[Catholic Caucus] SSPX Episcopal Consecrations? Learning from the PastWith the current speculation about whether, and when, the SSPX will consecrate new bishops, we can all agree on one thing: that they are needed. An extraordinary feature of the history of the Society of St Pius X is that, whenever there is contact with Rome, a group of the priests and the lay people in the chapels, up sticks and leave. Like affronted chefs, they run off in a huff and then accuse those whom they leave behind of ‘betraying’ the legacy of Archbishop Lefebvre. Every major event in the Society...

[Catholic Caucus] Society of Saint Pius X Jubilee Pilgrimage ImagesThe Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) is gathering faithful from around the world in their 2025 Jubilee Rome pilgrimage this week. Here are some images and video:

[Catholic Caucus] SSPX pilgrimage for Jubilee endorsed by Vatican despite canonical disputeThe Vatican’s official Jubilee 2025 calendar is currently listing a pilgrimage by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (SSPX), with the occasion marking a rare moment of visible accord following long-running tensions between SSPX and the Vatican. According to the SSPX website for Great Britain, the pilgrimage on 21 August will include a public Rosary at Colle Oppio, a Solemn High Mass at 9.30 a.m., and a procession entering the Holy Door of the Archbasilica of St John Lateran.The SSPX, founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in November 1970...

The FBI spied extensively on a Roman Catholic priest who declined to disclose private conversations he had with a parishioner, according to a report released earlier this week from the House Judiciary Committee that has raised religious liberty concerns. “This new information demonstrates that the FBI not only used its federal law enforcement resources to surveil certain Catholic Americans, but it also used these resources to investigate a clergy member,” the committee said, according to the July 22 report that Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, shared with the Catholic News Agency. After he expressed reluctance to comply with a January 2023...