SSPX Davide Pagliarini to Meet with Cardinal Fernández

In Rome, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, met with Father Davide Pagliarani, Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX)

This morning, a meeting took place at the Roman Palazzo del Sant’Uffizio between Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, and the Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X, Father Davide Pagliarani. The reason for granting the audience was Pagliarani's announcement on February 2nd that the Society would consecrate new bishops on July 1, 2026.

While there had only been written exchanges since the failure of talks in 2017—which led to dissatisfaction within the Society—the Vatican has now reacted with haste. On February 5th, the Society's General House announced it had received an invitation from Prefect Fernández to the Superior General. The announced episcopal consecrations startled Rome and brought movement to a matter that the Holy See had previously shelved.

Regarding today's meeting, only the statement from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith is available so far, published immediately after the encounter. Rome clearly values maintaining the "interpretive sovereignty." Under Pope Francis, this was usually left to the visitors, especially when they represented "innovations." This is naturally not the case with the Society of Saint Pius X.

Cardinal Fernández apparently made a very clear offer: the Society must renounce the episcopal consecrations; in exchange, the dialogue will continue. It can be assumed that the next dialogue date is intended to take place only after July 1st. Here is the full statement from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith:

Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith

COMMUNIQUÉ

Regarding the meeting between the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Superior General of the SSPX

On February 12, 2026, at the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, with the benevolence of the Holy Father Leo XIV, a cordial and sincere meeting took place between the Prefect, H.E. Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, and the Superior General of the SSPX, the Reverend Father Davide Pagliarani.

After clarifying several points presented by the SSPX in various letters, particularly those sent between 2017–2019—including a discussion on the question of the divine will regarding the diversity of religions—the Prefect proposed a specific theological path of dialogue with a clearly defined methodology. This relates to topics that have not yet received sufficient clarification, such as: the distinction between faith and the "religious submission of intellect and will," or the varying degrees of adherence required by the different texts of the Second Vatican Council and their interpretation. At the same time, he proposed addressing a series of topics listed by the SSPX in a letter dated January 17, 2019.

The aim of this path would be to identify the necessary minimum requirements for full communion with the Catholic Church regarding the discussed topics and, consequently, to draft a canonical statute for the Society, as well as other aspects that require further deepening.

The Holy See reaffirmed that the consecration of bishops without a mandate from the Holy Father—who holds supreme ordinary jurisdictional power, which is full, universal, immediate, and direct (cf. CIC, Can. 331; Dogmatic Constitution Pastor aeternus, Ch. I and III)—would result in a decisive rupture of ecclesial communion (schism) with grave consequences for the Society’s community as a whole (JOHN PAUL II, Apostolic Letter Ecclesia Dei, July 2, 1988, Nos. 3 and 5c; PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR LEGISLATIVE TEXTS, Explanatory Note, August 24, 1996, No. 1).

Therefore, the possibility of conducting this dialogue presupposes that the Society suspends the decision regarding the announced episcopal consecrations.

The Superior General of the SSPX will present the proposal to his Council and provide an answer to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In the event of a positive response, the steps, stages, and procedures will be determined by mutual agreement.

The whole Church is asked to accompany this path with prayer to the Holy Spirit, especially in the coming time. He is the primary author of the true ecclesial communion that Christ willed.

+ Víctor Fernández

AMDG