What is the deal with SSPX acknowledging the Pope, and what does it mean?

[JustinMartyr100]

What is the deal with SSPX acknowledging the Pope, and what does it mean? I have heard that they are separated from the Church, but right on their home page, it says:

sspx.org/
The Society of St. Pius X professes filial devotion and loyalty to Pope Benedict XVI, the Successor of Saint Peter and the Vicar of Christ.

The priests of the SSPX pray for the intentions of the Holy Father and the welfare of the local Ordinary at every Mass they celebrate.

What exactly does this mean in terms of their relation to the Church?

 

[faithfulrock3r]

huh good question. i was under the impression that they did NOT view Benedict as a legitimate pope, or something like that. anybody with an answer feel free to speak up

 

[JustinMartyr100]

After doing some additional reading, apparently the founder of SSPX consecrated four Bishop’s without Rome’s approval, which is a schismatic action, and he was excommunicated. I am assuming that this group never formally rejected the Pope, their schism just needs to be reconciled.

Please some, correct me if I am wrong, I still do not understand the situation fully. Thanks.

 

[reggieM]

They have an ambiguous relationship with the Holy See. It is not easy to explain or understand and it has changed in some ways over the years. From the SSPX perspective, they’ll claim that they’re in full communion with the Church and they’ve been treated unjustly so no penalties or decisions against them have any standing in law. They’ll also say that they can’t accept the authority of Rome because the Pope supports modernist belief and Vatican II has to be repudiated (and the Novus Ordo abolished). But they change their opinions at times also. Pope John Paul II said that there was a “schismatic act”. But now the Holy See says that there is no schism (I think).
The SSPX believes that it (as an organization) is right and Rome is wrong. But they also do not want to appear like they’re a separate church and they acknowledge that Pope Benedict is a true Pope. Others see the contradictions and decide either that Pope Benedict is not a true Pope (so they leave the SSPX and become sedevacantist) or that since Pope Benedict is the true Pope, then all who accept him must obey his directives and commands so they leave the SSPX and submit themselves to the Holy See (the correct path).
Rome is tolerant and very accepting of the SSPX (being “liberal” and “ecumenical” towards them?) and they don’t want to come down with a hard-line policy.
But technically speaking, they’re disobedient to the Pope and they could easily be disciplined or even formally excommunicated (again?).
Prior to Vatican II, the SSPX would certainly be excommunicated for disobedience – that’s what’s ironic about it. But they’ll claim that prior to Vatican II they would not have had any reason to not be obedient.

All that said, it’s complicated and some of it doesn’t make a lot of sense – but some things in the Church are like that because there are human factors that don’t line up perfectly with the laws of the Church.