Just hours after the episcopal consecrations held on July 1st in Écône, Fr. Davide Pagliarani, Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X, responded with a highly respectful letter to Pope Leo XIV explaining their meaning.
Fr. Pagliarani expressed his "deepest" gratitude for the Pope's paternal gesture in the letter and explained the Fraternity's sincere desire to serve the Church: "It seems to us that it is precisely our duty to do everything possible to sew the robe of Christ, torn by forces and pressures incompatible with an authentically Catholic spirit." The Fraternity does not see itself as one who tears, but as one who tries to repair.
The superior of the SSPX also invoked the case of thousands of souls who, he affirms, have recovered their faith and religious practice thanks to the apostolate of the Society, and asked the Pope to let his pastoral heart be "sensitive to this very particular situation." He closed the letter with a note of almost intimate hope: "For some time now I have been praying to Saint Rita for the present situation. I have seen in the election of an Augustinian Pope a sign of hope. I am certain that the saint will intercede. It is never too late."
Father Pagliarani noted that "One day, all the difficulties between the Holy See and the Society will be resolved. A gesture of understanding on the part of Your Holiness, far from harming unity, can only demonstrate to the world and to all Christians your concern for unity and your paternal kindness."
Below is the full text of the letter to the Pope, in which the SSPX emphasizes that the consecrations are not intended as a rupture but are an act that it believes will benefit and was necessary for the Catholic Church:
Ecône, June 30, 2026
Most Holy Father:
I sincerely thank you for the letter you kindly sent me.
I was deeply moved by your paternal concern.
For a long time, I have long desired the opportunity to meet with Your Holiness to express to you personally our sincere desire to serve the Church. Unfortunately, that opportunity has not arisen.
I only ask that you consider the authenticity of this intention, which is in no way fictitious. Paradoxically, in the current circumstances, it seems to us a necessary duty to do everything possible to mend the garment of Christ, torn by forces and pressures incompatible with a truly Catholic spirit. I simply ask that you consider the authenticity of this intention before making a decision regarding the Society of Saint Pius X. It is not too late.
Far be it from us to separate ourselves from the Roman Church; on the contrary, we wish to serve her through extraordinary means, as one helps a mother going through a serious difficulty who needs particular assistance that not everyone understands. But I am certain that the Holy Father could understand.
The Holy See has already demonstrated its ability to understand very complex situations and to grant the necessary time.
I humbly ask you to take the necessary time for this discernment.
If my words are not enough, I would ask you to reflect on two very simple facts. First, the Society was already declared schismatic in 1988, for reasons and under circumstances entirely analogous to the present ones; and yet, after so many years, we are speaking like a father to his son. His Holiness paternally exhorts me to avoid a schism that, theoretically, has already occurred. Does Your Holiness not believe that this very attitude of yours, for which I am so grateful, constitutes proof that the Fraternity is neither schismatic nor hostile to the Church?
Secondly, some years ago, the Holy See entrusted two bishops of the Church with the mission of dialoguing with the Priestly Fraternity St. Pius X: Mons. Vitus Huonder, then Bishop of Coira, today deceased, and Mons. Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of Astana. Both, after taking the necessary time to discern, recognized the deeply Catholic spirit of the Fraternity and testified to it publicly.
But, above all, allow me to address Your Holiness on behalf of the thousands of souls who have rediscovered the Catholic faith and religious practice through the apostolate of the Fraternity. It is a fact that his predecessors took note of. These souls have no greater desire than to attain salvation by this instrument which Providence has placed at their disposal. They have suffered and they are sincere. I am sure that his fatherly heart as a universal Shepherd will be sensitive to this particular situation. One day, all difficulties between the Holy See and the Brotherhood will be resolved. A gesture of understanding on the part of Your Holiness, far from harming unity, will only be able to manifest before the world and before all Christians his concern for unity and his fatherly kindness.
I leave all this to your consideration. I renew my prayer for Your Holiness.
For a long time, even before his election, I have been entrusting the current situation to Santa Rita. I saw in the election of an Augustinian Pope a sign of hope. I am sure the Saint will intercede. It's never too late.
I beseech Him to grant us His blessing.
I gladly take this opportunity to reiterate Your Holiness, very devout in the Lord.
Don Davide Pagliarani
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