An internal SSPX memo indicates the traditionalist society could be ready to accept if Pope Francis made an appropriate offer.

But that would be conditional on the provision of "an appropriate ecclesial structure" by the Pope.

The memo, titled "Considerations on the Church and the position of the Society of St Pius X in it", was written in February by Fr Franz Schmidberger, rector of the SSPX's seminary in Germany.

Fr Schmidberger asserted that the Vatican has been "gradually lowering its demands and recent proposals, no longer speak of recognising neither the Second Vatican Council nor the legitimacy of the Novus Ordo Missae".

In an interview with a French Catholic paper on April 6, the secretary for the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, Archbishop Guido Pozzo, stated that "Vatican II can be adequately understood only in the context of the full tradition of the Church and her constant Magisterium".

"Certain questions can remain 'subject to discussion and clarification'," Archbishop Pozzo added.

SSPX superior Bishop Bernard Fellay met Pope Francis and Archbishop Pozzo at the Vatican on April 1-2.

The SSPX memo stated that perhaps only Pope Francis is able to take this step [towards a regular canonical status for the society], given his unpredictability and improvisation".

"It seems the time to normalise the situation of the society has come," the memo reads.

Fr Schmidberger's memo asserts that whilst the group would like to "return from its 'exile'", further discussions would be expected: "We will not be silent, moreover, we will point out the errors by name. Before and after our normalisation."

It has been speculated that the normalisation of the SSPX would be accomplished by recognising the group as a "personal prelature", a canonical structure used for Opus Dei.

Among the reasons the SSPX wants normalisation are the fact it will need new bishops in the future and their consecrations should be licit.

Sources

• Catholic News Agency
• Image: SSPX.org.nz

The move by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was announced by SSPX superior-general Bishop Bernard Fellay during a homily.

The Secretary of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, Archbishop Guido Pozzo, said the appointment did not signal that "existing problems" between the SSPX and Rome had been resolved.

"But it is a sign of benevolence and magnanimity. I see no contradiction here, but rather, a step toward reconciliation," Archbishop Pozzo said.

This is not the first time the SSPX has made recourse to Rome regarding "delicta graviora" by priests and dispensations from priestly obligations.

The CDF is in charge of dealing with a number of "delicta graviora", and the one that occurs most frequently involves the sexual abuse of minors.

But what is new is that the CDF has decided to entrust a case, in the first instance trial, to the SSPX superior-general.

Bishop Fellay presented his appointment as an example of the "contradictions" in the Holy See's approach to the SSPX.

"We are labeled now as being irregular, at best. Irregular means you cannot do anything," he said.

"So I was appointed by Rome, by the Congregation of the Faith, to make judgements, canonical Church judgements on some of our priests who belong to a non-existent society for [Rome]."

Bishop Fellay contrasted his appointment with Rome's treatment of a pilgrimage involving 1500 faithful, from which came a request for a celebration of the old rite in St Peter's Basilica.

This request was rejected by the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei.

It was felt that the celebration of a Mass by a Lefebvrian priest before existing problems around canonical regularisation and full communion were resolved would have sent out the wrong signal.

Pope Francis gave his approval to a proposal for the requested Mass to be celebrated by an Ecclesia Dei priest in St Peter's Basilica.

But SSPX leaders rejected this offer.

Sources

• Vatican Insider
• Image: DICI