Pope Francis Confirms Traditiones Custodes does not apply to FSSP!

 Some great news from the FSSP:

Fribourg, February 21, 2022

On Friday, February 4, 2022, two members of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, Fr. Benoît Paul-Joseph, Superior of the District of France, and Fr. Vincent Ribeton, Rector of St. Peter’s Seminary in Wigratzbad, were received in private audience by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, for nearly an hour.

During the very cordial meeting, they recalled the origins of the Fraternity in 1988, the Pope expressed that he was very impressed by the approach taken by its founders, their desire to remain faithful to the Roman Pontiff and their trust in the Church. He said that this gesture should be “preserved, protected and encouraged”.

In the course of the audience, the Pope made it clear that institutes such as the Fraternity of St. Peter are not affected by the general provisions of the Motu Proprio Traditionis Custodes, since the use of the ancient liturgical books was at the origin of their existence and is provided for in their constitutions.

The Holy Father subsequently sent a decree signed by him and dated February 11, the day the Fraternity was solemnly consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, confirming for the members of the Fraternity the right to use the liturgical books in force in 1962, namely: the Missal, the Ritual, the Pontifical and the Roman Breviary.

Grateful to the Holy Father, the members of the Fraternity of St. Peter are in thanksgiving for this confirmation of their mission. They invite all the faithful who feel close to them as a spiritual family to attend or join them in prayer at the Mass tomorrow, on the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, and to pray for the Supreme Pontiff.

See the report here.

Once again the Pope signals left and turns right! Surely this leaves Roche's responsa high and dry? Does it not also contradict Traditionis custodes which states previous norms were "abrogated" see art. 8?

In formalising this concession, the Pope would seem to confirm the absolute validity of the Traditional Latin Mass, thereby completely undermining his own motu proprio!

This could lead to an exodus to the FSSP & perhaps the ICKSP - if the same approach is going to be applied to all the Ecclesia Dei groups.

The decree signed by Francis states:

"The Holy Father Francis, grants to each and every member of the Society of Apostolic Life “Fraternity of Saint Peter”, founded on July 18, 1988 and declared of “Pontifical Right” by the Holy See, the faculty to celebrate the sacrifice of the Mass, and to carry out the sacraments and other sacred rites, as well as to fulfill the Divine Office, according to the typical editions of the liturgical books, namely the Missal, the Ritual, the Pontifical and the Roman Breviary, in force in the year 1962.

They may use this faculty in their own churches or oratories; otherwise it may only be used with the consent of the Ordinary of the place, except for the celebration of private Masses."

Pope Francis also assured that it was "obvious" to him that seminarians of the FSSP could be ordained according to the traditional rite." - blimey! If it was obvious to him it was obvious to him alone!!!

It is hard to understand what exactly the Pope's play is here. Could he be making himself out to be the good guy with a wink and a nod to bishops to enforce the ban locally?

Could he be reacting to the negative backlash he has received as a result of Traditiones custodes?

Could it be that he was genuinely moved by the approach of Ecclesia Dei and their humble, obedient appeal to the Holy Father?

Whatever the reasons, the fact that devotees of the Traditional Latin Mass outside the FSSP remain persecuted in the most unfair way.

A careful reading of the decree does leave one with the feeling that the Pope is trying to have his cake and eat it here, issued totally contradictory decrees depending, basically, on who he is talking to.