The Pope reacts strongly against the Lefebvrian rebels and opens the doors to priests who do not join the schism

He Pope Leo XIV shows that he decided to take a vigorous initiative against the rebels. The decision provides that the priest who has decided to leave the Priestly Society of Saint Pius

The priest must “write in his own hand a letter to the Holy Father, in which he presents himself and requests the remission of the censures in which he has incurred, or having been validly ordained, has successively entered into the Priestly Ferternity of Saint Pius X.”

In addition, it must accompany the priest’s ordination certificate, signed and dated, “the profession of faith to the Formula of Adhesions.”

It is a document that summarizes the contents of the Catholic faith and the Formula of Adhesion with which the priest promises fidelity to the Pope, “making an effort not to publicly attack the pontiff and his teaching.”

As soon as the documentation from the Ordinary is received, the Dicastery of the Argentine Cardinal Fernández will authorize the reception and “for a trial period of at least one year and no more than three, at the end of which they will be incardinated.”

The process of reconciliation with the Pope and the Church also extends to the lay faithful who formally joined or frequent the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X and who “ask to enter into full communion with the Church.”

The situation must be evaluated “case by case,” this Friday’s announcement states.

The eventual procedure to be followed for lay people of the Fraternity on whom a sentence has been imposed and who ask to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church “involves a formal act of full adhesion to the doctrine and obedience to the Catholic hierarchy.”

The new provisions establish that “lay people who have attended the Fraternity only for liturgical or spiritual reasons, as well as lay people who do not reject the Magisterium or the authority of the Roman Pontiff, cannot be held accountable.

These lay people, to regulate their situation, must go “to a priest in full communion, with the decision not to frequent the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X in the future.”

The announcement of these measures is unusual of such importance that they reveal the will of the Pope, the body of cardinals and bishops from around the world to impose rapid investigations and “deep and effective” measures to be applied immediately in the event of these serious infractions, to welcome back religious and faithful who ask to be fully welcomed into the Church, based on a full recognition of the authority of the Supreme Pontiff.

The speed and vastness of the measures give the impression of a decision by the Pope to demonstrate his willingness to react immediately against actions that seek to affect his powers.