Letter of Arch. Lefebvre to Cardinal Ratzinger

Letter of Archbishop Lefebvre to Cardinal Ratzinger, April 15, 1988

FRATERNITA SACERDOTALE SAN PIO X

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+ Albano, April 15, 1988
Your Eminence,
Having had the opportunity to follow the works of the Commission in charge of preparing an acceptable solution to the problem which preoccupies us, it seems that with the grace of God we are coming closer to an agreement, which makes us very happy.
With this letter I attach the doctrinal declaration, modified slightly in such a way that I believe that I can sign it; I hope it will be agreeable to you.
No doubt, there will be more clarifications to add to the canonical document on the Roman Commission; at least at the beginning, I would like to be able to play a part in it so as to facilitate the solutions of the various cases of those who have been at our side during these last few years, and who also wish a happy outcome of their problems.
On this occasion, wouldn’t it be desirable that the option to use the liturgical books of John XXIII be granted to all bishops and all priests?
The prospect of having a successor in the episcopate gives me great joy, and I thank the Holy Father and yourself for it. Only one bishop will hardly suffice for the heavy work load; wouldn’t it be possible to have two, or at the least, couldn’t provisions be made for the possibility of raising its number in the next six months or a year?
Please, Your Eminence, express to the Holy Father my deep gratitude on my behalf and on behalf of all those whom I represent. Please be assured of my respectful and fraternal sentiments, in Christo et Maria.
+ Marcel Lefebvre
Archbishop Emeritus of Tulle
To His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger,
Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Vatican

Comments

News Roundup: October 19, 2026

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The News is an Addiction ...

+ JMJ People seem to be mesmerised by train wrecks. They just can't turn away as the disaster creeps forward along train tracks towards the crossing where a car, truck, bus, trailer awaits its destruction. Trads have been watching the train wreck that is this crisis of the Catholic Church for decades. The trade war between the Canada and the US has reminded me that the news is addictive. The first time I was addicted what from 2009 to 2014 when I was closely following the Rome / SSPX discussions. I was at work watching a live-stream as Bishop Fellay disappeared into the Vatican. The lead-up to this moment had been intense as the 'resistance' got freaked out and the cultural cracks between doctrine and conspiracy theory widened. In the decade since then other things have emerged, wars, rumours of wars, conspiracies, celebrity Catholics etc. Now we have a new addiction and its name is Trump. Lately, no matter how much I try, I find myself wonderin...

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A Look Back: Letter of Archbishop Lefebvre to Cardinal Ratzinger, April 15, 1988