[computer translation from the Vatican website]
Prot. No. 99/2009
EXPLANATORY NOTE
From the time of St. Paul VI to the latest conversations, which took place recently at this Dicastery, the many attempts to bring the adherents back to the movement initiated by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre to full communion with the Church have proved to be in vain. This situation has further worsened in because of recent episcopal consecrations celebrated without pontifical mandate, against the will of the Holy Father, in open violation of canon law. Therefore, this Dicastery, in the faithful exercise of its functions entrusted to him, considers it necessary to point out that this act constituted the crime of schism, with canonical consequences for sacred ministers and for the lay faithful involved. In fact, as already stated in 1988, "this disobedience - which brings with it a practical rejection of the Roman Primacy - constitutes an act schismatic" (cf. John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Ecclesia Dei, 3).
In this regard, from now on:
1. The sacred ministers belonging to the Society St. Pius X, are in schism and must therefore be considered schismatics (cf. Ecclesia De, 5 c; Pontifical Council for Texts Legislative, Explanatory Note on the excommunication for schism incurred by the adherents of the movement of Bishop Marcel Lefebvre, 24.08.1996, 5-6), being subject to the excommunication provided for by law (can. 1364 § 1 CJC).
2. As far as the lay faithful are concerned, the following are to be considered schismatic and excommunicated those who formally adhere to the Fraternity Priestly St. Pius X under the conditions established in the Explanatory Note of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts of 1996 (cf. ibid., 7), still in force, which this Dicastery makes its own.
3. Finally, the holy People of God is aware that the sacred ministers of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X illicitly administer the sacraments and that the sacrament of penance administered by them and marriage administered by them are disabled.
The Church, as a caring mother, will welcome with sincere affection and living concern for all those who wish to return to full communion. The Nuncios Apostolic Offices will have at their disposal the procedures that the Ordinaries can use in the several cases.
Finally, all the faithful are exhorted to remain firm in communion with the Roman Pontiff, with the Bishops in communion with him and with the whole Church (cf. Lumen Gentium, 22; can. 751 CIC), and to abstain from participating to the celebrations and activities promoted by the aforementioned Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X.
From the Dicastery Palace, 2 July 2026
Víctor M. Card. Fernández
Prefect
Msgr. Armando Matteo
Secretary for the Doctrinal Section
John J. Kennedy
Archbishop tit. by Osor
Secretary for the Disciplinary Section
