After the well-known vicissitudes experienced by the Lefebvrists in recent decades, on February 2 the superior of the FSSPX announced the intention to proceed with new episcopal consecrations without the papal mandate, because the Fraternity «believes that the objective state of grave necessity in which souls find themselves requires such a decision». Instead of personally addressing this gravest issue, Leo XIV entrusted the case to Tucho, which is the same thing as choosing a hungry wolf as a shepherd of the sheep, and Cardinal Zen commented: “Tucho, who seeks to abolish the traditions of the Church, how could he not hate the FSSPX? He would probably be happy to see it excommunicated”. As was obvious, the negotiations failed, and also by refusing a meeting with Father Pagliarani, Leo demonstrated his complete inadequacy in dealing with the vital problems of “his” church. The theological position of the Fraternity represents the extreme fringe una cum: this church is apostate, the pope is a heretic, yet we remain faithful to the Holy Father. Despite this singular pathological form of mental dissociation, Father Pagliarani's statements were strong and decisive: 

“We must know how to recognize with simplicity that the participation of a Pope in a ritual in honor of Pachamama, in the Vatican gardens, is a madness and a nameless scandal; finally, and above all, we must stop deceiving souls and humanity by making them believe that all religions worship the same God under different names... In this tragic context, it is necessary that someone dares to say: «Enough!», not only with words, but above all with concrete gestures”. If, in the present confusion, Divine Providence provides the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X with the means to clearly proclaim the eternal rights of Our Lord, it would be a very grave sin on our part to evade this obligation imposed on us by faith and charity... However, it surprises me that, on the part of the Holy Father, there has been no response or personal reaction so far”.

Father Pagliarani did not have the courage to say what he thought, namely that the Bergoglian church was heretical, and he used the euphemism «present confusion», which justified an unjustified state of necessity, because it clashed with the will of the “Holy Father”, recognized as such by the Lefebvrists and therefore entirely illicit. It is clear that we are not in the presence of a «state of necessity», but rather of a «state of apostasy», but the Fraternity could not confess this to the world, because it lived at the mercy of «a state of doctrinal simulation». Meanwhile, Bishop Schneider, who in 2015 had been tasked by Bergoglio to visit the FSSPX seminaries, took an ambiguous position: on one hand, he urged Leo to find an agreement with the Fraternity to avoid a schism; on the other, in an interview he revealed that several bishops he had consulted did not accept Francis' magisterium, although they did not have the courage to say so openly, but this was a symptom of an ongoing schism. In any case, we are dealing with the discovery of hot water: the synodal-rainbow church exercises its power only thanks to the cowardice of cardinals and bishops, who instead of recognizing the «state of apostasy» of the false church of Rome, lose themselves in useless chatter.

On May 13, Tucho had an explicit threat published against the Fraternity for «schism», «grave offense against God» and «excommunication». We were witnessing a new episode of Oggi le comiche, where the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X was accused of schism by the schismatic church of Rome, which welcomed and blessed the schismatic Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally! But by then the decision had been made, and Father Pagliarani responded the following day by sending a “profession of faith” to Leo XIV.

To counter the heresies of the German synodal path, on Sunday, July 12, the lay movement Pro Fide Ecclesiae was officially established in Offenbach am Main, which counts among its promoters Bishop Marian Eleganti, emeritus. The German schism had already been consummated, but in this case too it suited the church of Rome to pretend nothing had happened, and in reference to the liturgical blessing of homosexual couples approved by several German bishops, Leo pronounced with these disjointed expressions: “We of the Holy See do not agree… the important thing is to create unity and not disunity”; logic dictated using the same criterion towards the FSSPX, but honesty and coherence are not part of the spiritual baggage of Robert Francis Prevost.

While on the occasion of the Nuit Blanche some Parisian churches were transformed into discotheques and occult exhibitions, in several dioceses FSSPX pilgrims were forbidden from attending the traditional Mass, and this only served to heighten tensions between the parties. The hypocrisy of the synodal-rainbow church was plain for all to see: the Mass celebrated by fifty schismatic Anglican priests at St. John Lateran in April 2023, yes; the Mass celebrated in Rome by Bishop Savino for the LGBT Jubilee, yes; the Mass of Catholics who use the old missal, NO.

After the Declaration of Catholic Faith addressed to the Pope in the month of May, the Fraternity sent an open letter to Leo and all the cardinals, accompanied by another Profession of Catholic Faith. In view of the schism, many Catholic souls were restless, and even Don Nicola Bux invited Prevost to change his attitude not only towards the Fraternity, but also regarding the Dubia presented by some cardinals concerning the synodal path. Leo had carefully avoided addressing the problem in the June consistory, and in his extreme solicitude for the Fraternity, sent a final appeal to Father Pagliarani 24 hours before the fateful July 1 (dated June 29):

«With this spirit, and filled with Christian affection, I beg and ask you with all my heart: turn back from your steps! [...] I pray for you, because tearing the Seamless Tunic of Christ is a sin of extreme gravity».

Until now, the confessions and marriages celebrated by the Fraternity, although illicit, were considered valid, whereas now the Pope warned: «the schismatic act you would commit would deprive them of the lawful and in some cases even valid reception of the Sacraments». Father Pagliarani responded the same day: Far be it from us the idea of separating from the Roman Church, and invited the «Most Holy Father» to take time for discernment, even asking for his blessing. On July 1, the Fraternity consummated the schism, but woe to speak of it! During his speech, Pagliarani said: “Simply, we have the duty to preserve the faith that the Church has always taught”. Like Judas, while betraying Leo, Pagliarani continued to “kiss him”: We are accused of not loving the Pope. We are accused of not respecting him. But it is precisely because we love the Pope, sincerely, as Vicar of Christ, as head of the Church, that we do not want to continue to see the Pope humiliated alongside false pastors, representatives of false religions…. these consecrations do not constitute a rupture. They constitute a continuity: a continuity with the faith of always.

The now famous Tucho Fernández, known not only as a porno-theologian, but also for the documents crafted as Prefect of the DDF, always muddled and inconsistent, sent the confirmation of excommunication to the Fraternity accompanied by a related Explanatory Note, which was immediately challenged by various canonists and considered to have no canonical effects. Pagliarani immediately wrote to Leo, and using the usual euphemisms, described the apostasy of the synodal church, concluding in this way: «I remain, Most Holy Father, your most faithful son in the Lord». Father Pagliarani called himself a most faithful son because he was disobedient! It was enough to listen to the speech given at Vespers on July 1 by the newly elected bishop Michael Goldade, to understand how the Fraternity considered the synodal church of Rome to be apostate and schismatic, but this was not to be said to anyone, and one had to continue feigning loyalty to “our Holy Mother Church”.

 

As if the excommunication had been only a bump in the road… something unexpected, on July 11 the Fraternity filed an appeal in accordance with canons 1734 and following of the Code of Canon Law, and consequently all received sanctions were suspended.

 

       Excommunication yes (John Paul II), excommunication no (Benedict XVI), excommunication maybe (Leo XIV).

 

It was evident that the FSSPX's moves were carefully planned at the table, and Father Pagliarani gave the impression of inviting Leo XIV to live the experience of the prophet Hosea (1,2), who one day was told by the Lord:

 

«Go, take a prostitute as a wife,

beget children of prostitution,

for the land keeps prostituting itself

turning away from the Lord».

 

One has the feeling that the unfaithful bride Pagliarani is taking the husband Leo XIV for a ride, and while he continues to swear loyalty to him, he never stops visiting his lovers. One could also say that the husband and the unfaithful bride are now separated in the house. In any case, it suits both protagonists to maintain the already consolidated balances, to carry on this soap opera for as long as possible, with full satisfaction for both spouses.

Antonio Romano