THE Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), the ultra-traditionalist fraternity of priests that the Vatican excommunicated on July 3 for consecrating bishops without the pope’s consent, has written Pope Leo XIV to defend its role in the church.
The letter, by Don Davide Pagliarani, SSPX superior general, was posted on the Facebook page of Our Lady of Victories Church in Quezon City, the primary center for the society in the Philippines.
It was unclear if the priests associated with the church here, or the school it runs, Our Lady of Victories Catholic School in New Manila, Quezon City, are affected by the excommunication.
“It appears to us that this decision once more brings to light the profoundly tragic context in which the universal Church finds herself,” Pagliarani wrote after his group had been excommunicated in what the Vatican described as the Catholic Church’s “biggest schism in 156 years.”
“What the Society of Saint Pius X has done, and will continue to do, is nothing other than an extraordinary initiative for the salvation of souls, amidst the doctrinal and moral confusion into which the Church is plunged. We in no way claim to substitute ourselves for the Church, and we have no ambition other than to remain faithful to her,” the letter read.
“In conscience, we did not believe we could evade the moral duty we owe to souls, as we have already explained, both privately and publicly, to Your Holiness,” it added.
The society said they had asked “to be instructed and confirmed in the faith of all time” but were instead dismissed as “schismatic.”
“Despite the sanctions leveled against us, the Society of Saint Pius X sincerely renews the promise it has already expressed to Your Holiness,” the letter wrote.
“But above all, the Society of Saint Pius X promises You today that it will not receive these new sanctions — objectively unjust and invalid — with bitterness or revolt,” it added.
Pagliarani reiterated a previous letter to the pontiff that said it preserves tradition in the service of the Catholic Church.
“These recent condemnations, like those of the past, strike at what we hold most dear: our attachment to our Mother, the Roman Church. Yet, even in this trial, all things must work together for the good of souls and of the Church herself. Therefore, these condemnations compel us to love the Holy Church even more, and to provide for her needs with all our strength, now more than ever. For this very reason, the Society of Saint Pius X willingly offers up the suffering caused by these new sanctions for the good of the universal Church and of Your Holiness,” Pagliarani wrote.
“In the meantime, if you are able, despite your recent decision, bless us as your sons. For us, nothing has changed, and nothing ever will change,” he added.
The Vatican finds the SSPX divisive because the society rejects Second Vatican Council reforms — specifically regarding religious dialogue and vernacular Mass — and directly defied papal authority by consecrating four bishops without approval on Wednesday in rites held in Écône, Switzerland.