News
BREAKING NEWS: The Society Announces Episcopal Consecrations
By Raphael Roberts• 8/10/2026
•4 min read
On February 2, 2026, the Feast of the Purification, Fr. Davide Pagliarani, the Superior General of the Priestly Fraternity of the Society of St. Pius X, announced at the International Seminary of Saint-Curé d’Ars in Flavigny-sur Ozerain, France that he was entrusting the two remaining bishops of the Society with the task of “proceeding with new episcopal consecrations, on 1 July next.”
He continued, saying that in late August he had requested an audience with the Holy Father to present the Society’s current situation and later wrote again to express the urgent need to ensure the continuity of the ministry of the SSPX bishops, who for nearly forty years have traveled worldwide to provide the sacraments— especially Confirmation and Holy Orders—to those “attached to the Tradition of the Church.”
After receiving a response from the Holy See that did not address the Society’s requests, and prayerful consideration, Fr. Pagliarani, “in harmony with the unanimous advice of his Council, judges that the objective state of grave necessity in which souls find themselves requires such a decision.”
After hearing of this, the Vatican decided to send Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, to pay Fr. Pagliarani a visit on February 12.
Fr. Pagliarani meets with Cardinal Fernández.
On February 18, Ash Wednesday, Fr. Pagliarani issued a response to the cardinal, in which he thanked Cardinal Fernández for meeting with him and for the Holy See’s openness to renewed doctrinal discussions, explaining that such dialogue cannot proceed under the current pressure of threatened sanctions. He reiterated that deep doctrinal differences—especially regarding Vatican II—make agreement impossible at present, and that past attempts at similar dialogue have ended abruptly. He, instead, appealed to charity and pastoral understanding in order to not “reopen wounds.” He asked only that they would be allowed to continue providing the Sacraments to the faithful who depended on them, especially in view of the episcopal consecrations of July 1.He concluded entrusting the following months to prayer, invoking the Holy Ghost and the “Mediatrix of all Graces,” and assuring the cardinal of their respect and prayers.
He continued, saying that in late August he had requested an audience with the Holy Father to present the Society’s current situation and later wrote again to express the urgent need to ensure the continuity of the ministry of the SSPX bishops, who for nearly forty years have traveled worldwide to provide the sacraments— especially Confirmation and Holy Orders—to those “attached to the Tradition of the Church.”
After receiving a response from the Holy See that did not address the Society’s requests, and prayerful consideration, Fr. Pagliarani, “in harmony with the unanimous advice of his Council, judges that the objective state of grave necessity in which souls find themselves requires such a decision.”
After hearing of this, the Vatican decided to send Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, to pay Fr. Pagliarani a visit on February 12.
Fr. Pagliarani meets with Cardinal Fernández. On February 18, Ash Wednesday, Fr. Pagliarani issued a response to the cardinal, in which he thanked Cardinal Fernández for meeting with him and for the Holy See’s openness to renewed doctrinal discussions, explaining that such dialogue cannot proceed under the current pressure of threatened sanctions. He reiterated that deep doctrinal differences—especially regarding Vatican II—make agreement impossible at present, and that past attempts at similar dialogue have ended abruptly. He, instead, appealed to charity and pastoral understanding in order to not “reopen wounds.” He asked only that they would be allowed to continue providing the Sacraments to the faithful who depended on them, especially in view of the episcopal consecrations of July 1.He concluded entrusting the following months to prayer, invoking the Holy Ghost and the “Mediatrix of all Graces,” and assuring the cardinal of their respect and prayers.