The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (FSSPX) is once again facing the question of its episcopal future. This is acknowledged by Father Franz Schmidberger, former Superior General of the Society, who admits that it will be necessary to ordain new bishops in the coming years to ensure the continuity of its ministry.
In an interview granted on December 8 to the German media outlet Corrigenda, and reported by The Catholic Herald, Schmidberger explained that the matter is being considered internally, although without concrete decisions at the moment. «It is being studied, but I cannot say when it will take place or how many bishops will be ordained», he stated.
The Practical Need for New Bishops
Schmidberger emphasized an essential fact: «only a bishop can ordain priests». Without new bishops, the Fraternity would eventually find itself unable to continue priestly ordinations. Currently, the FSSPX has more than 700 priests worldwide, making its long-term survival unfeasible without a clear episcopal succession.
The issue gains greater urgency considering that the two currently living bishops of the Fraternity—Bernard Fellay and Alfonso de Galarreta—are approaching seventy years old.
The Relationship with Rome, a Key Point
The former Superior General recognized that any future episcopal consecration should be addressed in dialogue with the Holy See. «The Society will have to discuss this with Rome, which is essential, because in a normal situation bishops cannot be consecrated without the Pope’s permission», he noted.
Despite this, the Fraternity still lacks a regular canonical status within the Church. Asked about the possibility of full integration under the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, Schmidberger responded clearly: «We consider ourselves fully integrated into the Church». Another matter, he added, is legal recognition, which will depend on future developments and the efforts of the current Superior General and his council.
The Memory of 1988 and Its Justification
The discussion about new bishops has inevitably rekindled the memory of the 1988 episcopal consecrations, when Monsignor Marcel Lefebvre ordained four bishops without a pontifical mandate. Schmidberger again defended that decision, describing it as «correct» and taken in a context of crisis.
«It was an emergency situation», he affirmed, explaining that the goal was to give «public testimony to the traditional liturgy and the teachings of the Church», which they then considered threatened. According to Schmidberger, it was about preserving Catholic life and renewing it, in the same way that monks and monasteries have historically done in times of crisis.
He also recalled historical precedents, especially in countries under communist regimes, where episcopal consecrations took place without the Pope’s knowledge or permission and were later recognized by Rome in exceptional circumstances.
Bishops Without Territorial Jurisdiction
Schmidberger specified that, in the case of future consecrations, the new bishops would not have territorial authority. They would follow the model already used by the Fraternity: auxiliary bishops without jurisdiction, limited to sacramental functions such as ordaining priests, administering Confirmation, and consecrating churches and sacred objects.
A Reality Different from That of 1988
Unlike the end of the 20th century, the FSSPX is no longer a small and fragile group, but a large priestly body with a global presence. However, its irregular canonical situation cannot indefinitely compensate for the lack of legal clarity.
Beyond the theological controversy, the issue of new bishops responds to an objective need for survival. Without a functional apostolic succession, the Fraternity cannot sustain its sacramental life or its growth.
Whether Rome will grant an episcopal mandate or not remains an unknown. The Fraternity, for its part, insists that it considers itself part of the Church, although without formal legal recognition, and understands that this gives it the right to an episcopal structure coherent with its spirituality and mission.