The Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has recalled that episcopal ordinations carried out without a pontifical mandate “are a schismatic act” and has expressed his “great sorrow” over the four consecrations celebrated this Wednesday by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (FSSPX) in Écône (Switzerland).
Asked by journalists during an event held on July 1, Parolin stated that these events “deeply wound the unity of the Church.”
“I don’t think there is much to say about this episode. Above all, I want to express great sorrow, because, speaking of the unity of the Church, an act like this deeply wounds the unity of the Church,” the cardinal affirmed.
The Secretary of State recalled that “episcopal ordinations without a pontifical mandate break the unity of the Church” and added that such acts “are subject to very precise sanctions, which are fundamentally excommunication.”
Nevertheless, he avoided commenting on the steps the Holy See will take following the consecrations. “I do not know the timelines or the manner in which this matter will be formally addressed,” he replied when asked about a possible declaration of excommunication.
The Second Vatican Council, at the center of the disagreement
Despite the gravity of what occurred, Parolin expressed his hope that dialogue between the Holy See and the Fraternity might resume.
“I hope that, despite what happened today, dialogue can begin again and that a solution can truly be found also for this case,” he noted.
“The fundamental point is the Council, that is, whether or not the Second Vatican Council is accepted,” he explained. “One cannot think that the history of the Church stops at a certain moment. The history of the Church continues and, therefore, the Second Vatican Council constitutes a milestone in that history that must be accepted and correctly applied.”
Parolin concluded by reiterating his hope that, “despite this grave wound that has occurred,” new paths of dialogue may open that allow the canonical situation of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X to be resolved.