Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, gave a statement to journalists this week regarding the Feb. 2 announcement from the General House of Priestly Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) that the society intends to consecrate new bishops in July without the Pope’s authorization.
Rome-based journalist Diane Montagna reported in a Feb. 3 X post that when she asked Bruni to comment on the announcement, he told her that “contacts between the Society of Saint Pius X and the Holy See are ongoing, with the aim of avoiding ruptures or unilateral approaches to the issues that have arisen.”
Montagna wrote in the X post that the Holy See Press Office director “said that he had nothing further to add beyond these remarks, which he is giving in response to journalists’ inquiries.”
The SSPX said in the announcement that its superior general, Father Davide Pagliarani, had sent a letter to Pope Leo XIV about ordaining new bishops and received a response that did not “in any way respond to our requests,” as Zeale News previously reported.
Zeale News reported that some commentators warn that the decision to consecrate new bishops without the authorization of the Holy See would result in the involved clergy’s automatic excommunication.