Society of St. Pius X: Pope Francis received Bishop Fellay on Friday, 1 April 2016

Bishop Fellay did not have an opportunity to meet Pope Francis since the Holy Father’s election in March 2013, other than exchanging very brief salutations at Domus Sanctae Marthae, on December 13th, 2013 (see DICI N° 296 of 16/05/14).  However, some priests of the Society were previously received by the Supreme Pontiff, regarding certain administrative difficulties in the Society’s District of Argentina (see DICI N° 314 of 04/24/15). 

Pope Francis had wanted a private and informal meeting, without the formality of an official audience. It lasted 40 minutes and took place under a cordial atmosphere. After the meeting, it was decided that the current exchanges would continue. The canonical status of the Society was not directly addressed, Pope Francis and Bishop Fellay having determined that these exchanges ought to continue without haste. 

The next morning, Saturday, April 2nd, Bishop Fellay met with Archbishop Guido Pozzo, secretary of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, in keeping with the normal relations of the Society with this commission following the 2009-2011 doctrinal discussions and the visits of several prelates in 2015-2016. (See DICI n°307 of 19/12/14 et n°311 of 27/02/16). 

 Translations: Le pape François a reçu Mgr Fellay le vendredi 1er avril 2016 El Papa Francisco recibió a Mons. Fellay el viernes 1° de abril Papstaudienz für Bischof Bernard Fellay Papa Francesco ha ricevuto Mons. Fellay venerdì 1 aprile 2016