Lefebvrist Schism Rooted in Rejection of Vatican II, Not Just Latin Mass: Expert

The ongoing tension between the Vatican and the traditionalist Lefebvrist group centers on a fundamental rejection of the Second Vatican Council's core teachings, rather than solely on the preference for the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass, according to Father Roberto Regoli, a professor of Church History at the Pontifical Gregorian University.

Regoli, who also chairs the Vatican's Joseph Ratzinger Foundation, highlighted in an interview that both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis adopted a lenient approach towards the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (FSSPX). Despite numerous concessions made by the papacies, Regoli observed that these gestures yielded no reciprocal changes from the group.

He cautioned against the potential for schisms to become unresolvable if not addressed promptly. Regoli pointed out that schisms have historically followed major church councils, such as the Council of Trent and the First Vatican Council, which led to the Old Catholic schism. The Second Vatican Council also resulted in a schism with the Lefebvrists.

Regoli elaborated that these schisms typically emerge when councils introduce doctrinal shifts or redefine the Church's relationship with the world. The Lefebvrists, he explained, specifically reject doctrines concerning religious freedom, interfaith dialogue, ecumenism, and the concept of a confessional state, preferring instead a model where the state is officially aligned with the Church.

Regarding the Latin Mass, Regoli stated that the liturgical issue is no longer the primary point of contention. He credited Benedict XVI with depoliticizing the matter, noting that various groups within the Catholic Church already celebrate the traditional Latin Mass (the Vetus Ordo). The core resistance, he reiterated, lies in the Lefebvrists' broader theological disagreements.

“

If a schism is not resolved quickly, it becomes unresolvable.