SSPX and Pope Francis

[Ginkgo100]

I receive the SSPX’s occasional email newsletter and have not heard one whisper about their thoughts on the new Pope. If this was your only source of Catholic news you would think B16 was still the Holy Father. Does anybody know what SSPX voices are saying about Pope Francis?

 

[runningdude]

They recognize the lawful Pope.

 

[Mike30]

I receive the SSPX’s occasional email newsletter and have not heard one whisper about their thoughts on the new Pope.** If this was your only source of Catholic news you would think B16 was still the Holy Father**. Does anybody know what SSPX voices are saying about Pope Francis?

From the SSPX website:

Communiqué from the SSPX’s General House on the occasion of the election of Pope Francis

With the news of the election of Pope Francis, the Society of St. Pius X prays to Almighty God that He abundantly bestow on the new Sovereign Pontiff the graces necessary for the exercise of this heavy charge.

Strengthened by Divine Providence, may the new pope “confirm his brethren in the Faith”[1], with the authority which St. Pius X proclaimed at the beginning of his pontificate:

We do not wish to be, and with the divine assistance never shall be aught before human society but the Minister of God, of whose authority We are the depositary. The interests of God shall be Our interest, and for these We are resolved to spend all Our strength and Our very life.[2]

St. Francis of Assisi, whose name the new pontiff has taken, heard the Crucified Savior say to him, “Go, Francis and rebuild my Church.” It is in such a spirit that the bishops, priests, and religious of the Society of St. Pius X assure the Holy Father of their filial desire "to restore all things in Christ, so that Christ may be all and in all”[3] according to their means, for the love of the Holy Catholic and Roman Church.

Menzingen, March 13, 2013

While you might get the impression that Pope Benedict is still the Holy Father, the SSPX appears to have no illusions about the election of Pope Francis.

Just because the SSPX doesn’t fill their website and their E-mails with news about the Holy Father doesn’t mean that they do not accept him and follow him. In fact from everything I have read, they accept him wholeheartedly.

I have a feeling that wasn’t quite the answer you were looking for, but it is the truth…

As Brother JR says, Lerarn about the Holy Father rather than criticize him. Maybe that is what they are doing…

 

[otjm]

According to what has been said in other threads, it appears that the SSPX leaders have put a clamp on the society in no uncertain terms as to commentary with others than the society. Given the status immediately prior to Benedict 16 stepping down, that a complete reconciliation had not been accomplished, there is little or nothing that can be drawn from the statement. Things are status quo; which is that they are in the same position they were in during January. What goes on from Rome’s standpoint may be more closely guarded than from their standpoint, and they are not particularly forthcoming about the process either.

Rome had indicated what they had to do to be regularized, and it has been less than clear whether they said they wanted to think about it, try to negotiate terms further, or something else other than “We agree” or We won’t accept your terms" as either position would have resolved the issues farther than they have been resolved.

Whether they (the SSPX bishops) had any indication that Benedict would step down may never be known; or they may have been just as surprised as anyone else. There is no doubt that Benedict most seriously wanted reconciliation; and there is no doubt that he was intimately involved with what the terms could or could not be.

Thus there is no benefit to them whatsoever to “play their hand” as to what they think, don’t think, like, dislike, are joyous of or fearful of as to this Pope.

 

[Mike30]

According to what has been said in other threads, it appears that the SSPX leaders have put a clamp on the society in no uncertain terms as to commentary with others than the society. Given the status immediately prior to Benedict 16 stepping down, that a complete reconciliation had not been accomplished, there is little or nothing that can be drawn from the statement. Things are status quo; which is that they are in the same position they were in during January. What goes on from Rome’s standpoint may be more closely guarded than from their standpoint, and they are not particularly forthcoming about the process either.

Rome had indicated what they had to do to be regularized, and it has been less than clear whether they said they wanted to think about it, try to negotiate terms further, or something else other than “We agree” or We won’t accept your terms" as either position would have resolved the issues farther than they have been resolved.

Whether they (the SSPX bishops) had any indication that Benedict would step down may never be known; or they may have been just as surprised as anyone else. There is no doubt that Benedict most seriously wanted reconciliation; and there is no doubt that he was intimately involved with what the terms could or could not be.

Thus there is no benefit to them whatsoever to “play their hand” as to what they think, don’t think, like, dislike, are joyous of or fearful of as to this Pope.

I agree. And by not saying much, they are not saying anything wrong.

 

[Ginkgo100]

I agree. And by not saying much, they are not saying anything wrong.

Thanks for the responses. It’s an eminently reasonable and respectable approach. I was just surprised not to hear ANYTHING from their emails, whether positive or just neutral reporting.

 

[10thCrusader]

I think they just don’t know what to think yet. There’s too many unknowns to formulate an opinion yet. I think they have a wait and see attitude.