Feb. 21, 2026 : The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) has rejected the Holy See's proposal for a “specifically theological” dialogue, because the texts of the Second Vatican Council and the legitimacy of the liturgical reform would never be called into question. They have confirmed their intention to proceed with the episcopal ordinations scheduled for July 1.
This response comes in a letter from Fr. Davide Pagliarani, Superior General of the Society, to Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, following their meeting on February 12 in the Vatican.
The Fraternity was founded in 1970. Its charism is centered on priestly formation. However, it has been highly critical of certain key aspects of Vatican II, such as ecumenism, episcopal collegiality, and liturgical reform. So critical that at the end of the 1980s, its founder, Marcel Lefebvre, already provoked a previous schism by ordaining bishops without papal approval. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI readmitted them, opening a period of greater dialogue — which now seems to be at risk of breaking down again.
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