Ok, so to start a discussion a little more on topic:
If this rumor was true, and Francis offered the SSPX “unilateral recognition by tolerance”, with no strings attached, they would accept, right?
A long look back to their beginnings would not be grounds for a lot of hopefulness. There has been splintering at least on several occasions, and from what has been noted in threads herein, one is left wondering of the three bishops remaining, who has what opinion. I don’t have an inside track, but there have been implications that the two remaining bishops are more conservative (that is, lees likely to reunite) than Bishop Fellay; but that is largely conjecture. They tend to keep to themselves, and what comes out to the public at times appears to be somewhat contradictory, leaving one to feel that they are not of one mind. They started with four bishops, and Bishop Williamson was ousted. I don’t know their ages nor any idea of their health, but given they are spread out through Europe, and North and South America, there comes a point where they will need to ordain more bishops if for not other reason than health/death/geographical spread. And that comes to a point, not to be too crude, where the rubber meets the road. The first go-round of ordinations resulted in excommunications; any presumption that another round would not do likewise would take some serious 'splainin, to quote Desi Arnez.
There was a thread some time back that indicated that the SSPX (possibly their website?) had called this Pope a modernist. While I have my doubts that missive made it to Francis’ desktop, I have a hard time believing that the Pope is simply going to give them a pass, after Benedict said “this is the requirement” and was quite specific. That is not to say that Benedict could bind Francis; but Francis seems to be consulting with Benedict more than on just a rare occasion. And while Francis has made it a point to shake up and reorganize the dicasteries, neither has he gone in to eliminate them.
This isn’t like some spat that flared up a couple of years ago and was more about personalities than substance; it goes back to Pay VI. Francis is now the 5th Pope to have this problem to deal with. For those who are still within the Church but are anywhere from somewhat to greatly sympathetic with the SSPX position, much agitation can be expected, which will result in many rumors. They would love to see the SSPX come into the official fold with all of the baggage they carry, as it would strengthen the objections the sympathizers make.
Time will tell. Meanwhile, if I want to look good in blue, I will change my shirt, not hold my breath.
But to answer your question, it really appears that some within the SSPX do not want reconciliation. How many only they know, and they are not talking.
