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Chronicle: Rome Issues Canonical Warning ... 1988 vs 2026

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JMJ

At this time the only indication of a Rome (Cdl Fernandez / Pope Leo 14) issuing a Canonical Warning to the SSPX is a press release (link).  

For comparison, I have attached the 1988 version.  Perhaps they (Rome) will issue a formal warning as the date of the consecrations draws nearer.  I really want to see the canons they cite.

P^3

2026

Statement of His Eminence Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith 

May 13, 2026 

Regarding the Society of Saint Pius X, what has already been communicated is hereby reaffirmed. The episcopal ordinations announced by the Society of Saint Pius X do not have the corresponding pontifical mandate. This act will constitute "a schismatic act" (John Paul II, Ecclesia Dei, n. 3), and "formal adherence to the schism constitutes a grave offense against God and carries with it the excommunication established by the law of the Church" (ibid., 5c; cf. Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, Explanatory Note, August 24, 1996).

The Holy Father continues in his prayers to ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten those responsible in the Society of Saint Pius X, so that they may reconsider the gravely serious decision they have made.

From the Vatican, May 13, 2026

1988

June 17, 1988

Canonical Warning

Congregation for Bishops to His Excellency Archbishop

Marcel Lefebvre, Archbishop-Bishop Emeritus of Tulle

Since on June 15, 198874 you stated that you intended to ordain four priests to the episcopate without having obtained the mandate of the Supreme Pontiff as required by Canon 1013 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, I myself convey to you this public canonical warning, confirming that if you should carry out your intention as stated above, you yourself and also the bishops ordained by you shall incur ipso facto excommunication latæ sententiæ reserved to the Apostolic See in accordance with Canon 1382. I therefore entreat and beseech you in the name of Jesus Christ to weigh carefully what you are about to undertake against the laws of sacred discipline, and the very grave consequences resulting therefrom for the communion of the Catholic Church, of which you are a bishop.

Given at Rome, from the Office of the Congregation for Bishops, June 17, 1988.

By Mandate of the Supreme Pontiff,

Bernardin Card. Gantin

Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops

74. At a press conference held at Ecône.

Source: https://sspxasia.com/Documents/Archbishop-Lefebvre/Archbishop_Lefebvre_and_the_Vatican/Part_I/1988-06-17.htm


I also wrote a post on this topic that can be found below:

https://tradicat.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-look-back-cardinal-lara-and-sspx.html


References

https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/05/13/260513d.html

https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2026/05/13/vatican-says-sspx-faces-excommunications-for-schismatic-bishop-consecrations/

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2026/05/vatican-issues-final-warning-to-breakaway-traditionalist-sspx

https://dianemontagna.substack.com/p/vatican-issues-formal-warning-over

https://fsspx.news/en/news/declaration-catholic-faith-addressed-pope-leo-xiv-59110

https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2026/05/sspx-superior-published-declaration-of.html

https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2026/05/new-vatican-declaration-on-sspx.html

https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/world/vatican-issues-final-warning-to-breakaway-traditionalist-group-attached-to-the-old-latin-mass/article_f40ae257-0dc4-558d-9708-34c6f248f7b5.html

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