Pope makes final appeal to SSPX: Do not tear the seamless garment of Christ

View from St Peter's Basilica ICN/JS

Source: Vatican Media

As he had announced recently during his meeting with journalists at Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo has made a final appeal to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, (SSPX) urging it not to proceed with the consecration of four new bishops without a pontifical mandate, scheduled to take place in Écône, Switzerland, on the morning of 1 July.

In a letter dated 29 June 2026, the Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Pope Leo writes:

"With a paternal heart, and aware of the responsibility entrusted to me by the Lord as the Successor of the Apostle Peter, I address you and, through you, the bishops, priests, seminarians and faithful connected to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X," Pope Leo XIV writes. "The Church recognizes the devotion to liturgical life, commitment to priestly formation, apostolic zeal and desire for fidelity to Tradition that characterize many people and communities connected to your Fraternity. This has motivated the attentive and generous attitude that my Predecessors have consistently shown to you."

"In this spirit, and filled with Christian affection, I plead with you and ask you with all my heart: please turn back!" the Pope continues. "I urge you to consider carefully the spiritual good of the faithful, because the schismatic act you are about to undertake would deprive them of the licit and, in some cases, even valid reception of the Sacraments, which they love and seek for their sanctification."

"The Church is open to a path of dialogue and understanding that the Holy Spirit can make possible and fruitful," the Pope writes in the letter, which was composed in French and addressed to the Superior General of the Fraternity, Fr Davide Pagliarani.

"I pray for you, because to tear the seamless garment of Christ is a sin of extreme gravity. May the Lord enlighten your consciences and awaken your hearts. With a sorrowful yet hopeful heart, I feel it is my duty, through the authority received from Christ, to ask you to desist from your intended act. I entrust these intentions to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Good Counsel."

The Pope is thus once again calling on the Lefebvrists to refrain from carrying out the schismatic act of episcopal consecrations without a pontifical mandate. Significantly, the central argument advanced in the letter concerns the spiritual welfare of the faithful attached to the Society of Saint Pius X, since such an act would render the sacraments they receive illicit and, in certain cases -namely sacramental confession and marriage - even invalid.

Read the full letter here:
www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/it/letters/2026/documents/20260629-lettera-fraternita-sanpiox.html