By Diane Montagna, published on X:
Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issues statement following today’s meeting at the Vatican between SSPX Superior General Fr. Davide Pagliarani & DDF Prefect Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández. According to the statement: “After clarifying certain points presented by the FSSPX in various letters, particularly those sent between 2017 and 2019 — including, among other topics, the question of the divine will concerning the plurality of religions,” Cardinal Fernández proposed a structured theological dialogue to clarify unresolved issues. However, the Cardinal emphasized that ordaining bishops without the Pope’s mandate “would constitute a decisive rupture of ecclesial communion (schism), with serious consequences for the Fraternity as a whole.” Consequently, the proposed dialogue requires the Fraternity to suspend any planned episcopal ordinations. The Superior General of the FSSPX will present the proposal to his Council and will provide his response to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.
JUST IN: Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issues statement following today’s meeting at the Vatican between SSPX Superior General Fr. Davide Pagliarani & DDF Prefect Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández.
— Diane Montagna (@dianemontagna) February 12, 2026
According to the statement: “After clarifying certain points presented… pic.twitter.com/njtxhjsJfg
Here is a working English translation of the DDF’s Statement:
*** STATEMENT OF THE DICASTERY FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH Regarding the Meeting between the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Superior General of the FSSPX
On 12 February 2026, a cordial and sincere meeting took place at the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith between the Prefect, His Eminence Cardinal Victor Manuel FERNANDEZ, and the Superior General of the FSSPX, Reverend Don Davide PAGLIARANI, with the approval of the Holy Father Leo XIV. After clarifying certain points presented by the FSSPX in various letters, particularly those sent between 2017 and 2019 — including, among other topics, the question of the divine will concerning the plurality of religions — the Prefect proposed a pathway of specifically theological dialogue, following a precise methodology, on issues that have not yet received sufficient clarification.
These include: the distinction between an act of faith and the “religious submission of mind and will,” as well as the differing degrees of adherence required by various texts of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council and their interpretation. At the same time, he proposed addressing a series of topics listed by the FSSPX in its letter of 17 January 2019. The aim of this dialogue is to highlight, in the topics under discussion, the minimum requirements for full communion with the Catholic Church, and consequently to outline a canonical statute for the Fraternity, along with other aspects requiring further study.
The Holy See reaffirmed that the ordination of bishops without the mandate of the Supreme Pontiff, who possesses ordinary, supreme, universal, immediate, and direct power (cf. CIC, can. 331; Dogmatic Constitution Pastor aeternus, chs. I and III), would constitute a decisive rupture of ecclesial communion (schism), with serious consequences for the Fraternity as a whole (John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Ecclesia Dei, 2 July 1988, nn. 3 and ff.; Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, Explanatory Note, 24 August 1996, n. 1). Therefore, the possibility of undertaking this dialogue presupposes that the Fraternity suspend the announced episcopal ordinations.
The Superior General of the FSSPX will present the proposal to his Council and will provide his response to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. In the event of a positive response, the steps, stages, and procedures to be followed will be established by mutual agreement. The Church is asked to accompany this process, especially in the coming times, with prayer to the Holy Spirit, who is the principal agent of true ecclesial communion willed by Christ.
