Lefebvrians: Four bishops consecrated, now it's a schism. "Ready to do anything to save the Church."

The Lefebvrists have proceeded with the ordination of four new bishops without papal mandate, despite yesterday's final appeal by Leo XIV.

An act that automatically triggers excommunication and prefigures a schism in the Church.

The ceremony to consecrate the Swiss Pascal Schreiber, the American Michael Goldade and the Frenchmen Michel Poinsinet de Sivry and Marc Hanappier began this morning in a tent set up next to the Swiss seminary in Econe.

The consecration took place with the laying on of hands on the heads of the new bishops by the celebrant, Msgr. Alfonso de Galarreta, and by Msgr. Bernard Fellay, co-consecrator.

At the beginning of the celebration, a brief address was chosen by the Superior General, Father Davide Pagliarani, replacing the apostolic mandate usually used in episcopal ordinations. The leader of the Lefebvrians spoke of a "completely exceptional circumstance" that prompted the ordination: "Since, from the Second Vatican Council until today, the Church authorities have manifested an attitude contrary to the faith and act contrary to sacred tradition, no longer enduring sound doctrine but, turning away from the truth, turning away to myths, as St. Paul writes, we consider it our duty, before the Church and souls, to proceed with the consecration of bishops faithful to sound tradition and the constant magisterium of the Church."

The homily

"We are ready to pay any price to save the Church," Pagliarani said in his homily.

"We are accused of not loving the Pope, we are accused of not respecting him, but it is precisely because we love the Pope as the Vicar of Christ that we no longer want to see the Pope humiliated, put on the same level by false shepherds."

"How many times have we seen the Pope in this situation? Precisely because we love the Vicar of Christ, we do not want this humiliation, a humiliation that falls on the entire Church, placed on the same level as false religions," added the leader of the Lefebvrists.

Why aren't we understood? The problem is that we speak two different languages: we speak the language of faith, the language of tradition, and we find ourselves faced with a language that speaks of other things, the language of inclusion, dialogue, and accompaniment. We, on the other hand, want faith. Then, of course, in faith, we dialogue with people to convert them.

The Pope's appeal

"I beg you with all my heart, turn back. To tear the seamless tunic of Christ is a sin of the utmost gravity. May the Lord enlighten your consciences and awaken your hearts." A dramatic letter was sent by Leo XIV to Don Davide Pagliarini (superior of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, its official name) to prevent traditionalist rebels from proceeding with illegitimate consecrations without a papal mandate.

"Full of Christian affection," he wrote in the letter dated June 29, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, but released yesterday, "I beg you and ask you with all my heart: retrace your steps! I urge you to carefully consider the spiritual well-being of the faithful, because the schismatic act you would commit would deprive them of the licit and, in some cases, even valid reception of the sacraments they love and seek for their sanctification."

The Lefebvrians' response left no room for misunderstanding: "Paradoxically, in today's context, we feel we must do everything possible to mend Christ's tunic, torn by forces and pressures incompatible with an authentic Catholic spirit. We simply ask that you consider the authenticity of this intention before making a decision regarding the Priestly Fraternity. It is not too late. Far be it from us to separate ourselves from the Roman Church; on the contrary, we wish to serve it in an extraordinary way."

The Roots of the Schism

However, the issue of the failure to accept Vatican II and its reforms, from ecumenism to openness to the laity and the celebration of the Mass in the 'vernacular' languages and not in Latin, is always digging a ditch between the followers of Marcel Lefebvre (1905-1991), an anti-Council bishop excommunicated by Saint John Paul II, and the Church of Rome.

Today's ordinations come 38 years after the episcopal consecrations desired by Monsignor Marcel Lefebvre, which, in 1988, marked a break with Rome due to the illicit act.

Forza Nuova and Vannacciani at the celebration

The Italian far right has also come forward for the Lefebvrists. Forza Nuova has expressed its support and announced the presence of its own delegation led by secretary Roberto Fiore.

Some representatives of Futuro Nazionale have also announced their presence: Mario Borghezio, who called the Lefebvrians "political soldiers of Tradition," Fabrizio Matta, president of the constituent committee Torino 506, and Larissa Yudina, an Italian-Russian soprano.

(Unioneonline)