Meeting scheduled between Society of St. Pius X and Prefect of the DDF

Vatican News

A meeting has been scheduled next week between Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Father Davide Pagliarani, Superior General of the Priestly Society of St. Pius X, said Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, in responding to journalists’ questions.

“The meeting,” he explained, “will be an opportunity for an informal and personal dialogue, which will help identify effective tools for discussion that can lead to positive results,” he said.

The statement comes a day after he stated that contacts are continuing between the Society of St. Pius X and the Holy See, with the desire “to avoid rifts or unilateral solutions with regard to the issues that have emerged.”

Mr. Bruni's response came in regard to the Society of St. Pius X’s announcement on February 2 regarding the upcoming episcopal ordinations, scheduled for July 1 at the International Seminary of Saint Curé of Ars in Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, France.

In the statement issued by the Society, reference was made to a letter sent to the Holy See, expressing “the particular necessity of the Society to ensure the continuity of the ministry of its bishops.”

The Holy See, the Society explained, sent “a letter that in no way responds to our requests,” which led to its decision to proceed along the indicated path.