It has certainly been coming. What began with Pope Benedict XVI may finally be delivered by Pope Francis. May it be so. May it be so, soon. If any Pope can do this, if only because of sheer will to do things out of the ordinary, more than often enough causing us consternation; if any Pope can, it is Francis.
Francis will do it and some may fear it, thinking the Society will compromise. What is happening, in my view is really quite simple; the Holy Spirit and Our Lady will bring this all together. Pope Francis may have his reasons for doing this, it is certainly about "dialogue." Bishop Fellay and the other leadership know that it is not healthy to put another generation through the insecurity and isolation - it will not have good long-term effect. In my view, there is nothing which can be done to negatively affect the Society that they do not agree to it. They simply would refuse. Good heavens, have you ever met these priests? They are men of God, men of Mary, men of steel!
This is the work of the Holy Spirit right before our eyes. While on one hand we see much in the Church at near collapse, we see the work of the paraclete already preserving the Holy Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Benedict XVI was and is hated by many for Summorum Pontificum. From countless others, he is loved for this, and more.
As for Pope Francis, maybe it's just as simple as he wants to do everything for everybody.
Francis will do it and some may fear it, thinking the Society will compromise. What is happening, in my view is really quite simple; the Holy Spirit and Our Lady will bring this all together. Pope Francis may have his reasons for doing this, it is certainly about "dialogue." Bishop Fellay and the other leadership know that it is not healthy to put another generation through the insecurity and isolation - it will not have good long-term effect. In my view, there is nothing which can be done to negatively affect the Society that they do not agree to it. They simply would refuse. Good heavens, have you ever met these priests? They are men of God, men of Mary, men of steel!
This is the work of the Holy Spirit right before our eyes. While on one hand we see much in the Church at near collapse, we see the work of the paraclete already preserving the Holy Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Benedict XVI was and is hated by many for Summorum Pontificum. From countless others, he is loved for this, and more.
As for Pope Francis, maybe it's just as simple as he wants to do everything for everybody.
La Croix: You received, on the past April 1st, Bp. Bernard Fellay, Superior-General of the Society of Saint Pius X. Is the reintegration of the Lefebvrists in the Church once again being considered?
Pope Francis: In Buenos Aires, I always spoke with them. They saluted me, they asked for [my] blessing on their knees. They consider themselves Catholic. They love the Church. Bp. Fellay is a man with whom we can dialogue. It is not the case of other somewhat strange elements, such as Bp. Williamson, or others who have radicalized. I think, as I had expressed in Argentina, that they are Catholics on the path to full communion. During this Year of Mercy, it seemed that I should authorize their confessors to pardon the sin of abortion.[*] They thanked me for this gesture. Before that, Benedict XVI, whom they respect greatly, had liberalized the Mass according to the Tridentine Rite. We dialogue well, we do a good work.
Would you be ready to grant them a status of personal prelature?
Pope Francis: It would be a possible solution, but, before, a fundamental agreement should be established with them. The Second Vatican Council has its value. We move forward slowly, with patience.