New Vatican move to rekindle dialogue with SSPX

January 21, 2013

Archbishop Augustine Di Noia, the vice-president of the Ecclesia Dei commission, has written to the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), urging a resumption of talks aimed at reconciling the traditionalist group with the Holy See.

In his 8-page letter, Archbishop Di Noia outlines the current state of negotiations between the Vatican and the SSPX, and says that he remains “full of hope” that differences can be surmounted. The letter—which was sent before Christmas—was reportedly written with the approval of Pope Benedict XVI.

Archbishop Di Noia sent the letter to Bishop Bernard Fellay, the head of the SSPX, with a request that it be circulated among all the priests of the order. In the letter the archbishop emphasizes that Pope Benedict is anxious to resolve the differences that have separated the traditionalist group from the Church. He makes an urgent plea for reconciliation, saying: "The only conceivable future for the [SSPX] lies along the path of full communion with the Holy See."

Talks between the Vatican and the SSPX stalled last year, apparently because of an impasse over the traditionalist group’s objections to the teachings of Vatican II.

 

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Further information:

• Lefebvrians: Church extends a hand to the SSPX in an eight-page letter (La Stampa)