Il Nuovo Postiglione - Pope appeals to Catholic traditionalists to avoid schism

The Society of Saint Pius X, founded in Econe, Switzerland, in 1970, has said it will ordain its own bishops on Wednesday. For the Holy See, this would be a direct act of insubordination, leading to the automatic excommunication of the bishops.

The society's founder, French bishop Marcel Lefebvre, and his followers reject the changes in the Church since the modernising Second Vatican Council (1962–1965).

Adhering to a strict interpretation of Catholic tradition, the society holds masses in Latin celebrated by priests with their backs turned to the congregation.

"I plead with you and ask you with all my heart: please turn back!" Pope Leo wrote in a letter addressed to the society, dated June 29 and made public on Tuesday.

The US-born pope asked the community "to consider carefully the spiritual good of the faithful", whose number is estimated at 600,000 worldwide.

"The schismatic act you are about to undertake would deprive them of the licit and, in some cases, even valid reception" of sacraments -- such as marriages or confessions -- carried out by the bishops.

"I pray for you, because to tear the seamless garment of Christ is a sin of extreme gravity," Leo said.

The society's superior general, Father Davide Pagliarani, said in a statement the group would go ahead with the ordinations and denied that it was "neither schismatic nor hostile to the Church".

"A gesture of understanding on your part, far from undermining unity, could only demonstrate to the world and to all Christians your concern for unity and your fatherly kindness," he said in the statement.

In 1988, Pope John Paul II issued a similar appeal but failed to stop the society from ordaining new bishops. They were immediately excommunicated, but the sanction was lifted in 2009.

H.Zampino--INP