Cardinal Fernández has prepared SSPX excommunication order: report

(LifeSiteNews) — Vatican journalist Diane Montagna reported Tuesday that Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández has already prepared an order of excommunication for the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) should they consecrate new bishops in July.

In her April 28 report, Montagna wrote that Italian journalist Nico Spuntoni, who is known for his accurate reporting ahead of official channels, confirmed to her that the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) led by Cardinal Fernández has already prepared a declaration of schism for the SSPX in the event the order consecrates new bishops on July 1 as planned. Spuntoni also told Montagna that the DDF is currently making pastoral arrangements to welcome any faithful who may leave the SSPX after the consecrations.

The reported development comes just days after reports emerged that Pope Leo XIV has decided to follow the precedent set by Pope John Paul II and declare excommunicated the SSPX bishops who participate in the Society’s upcoming episcopal consecrations on July 1.

“Informed sources on the matter have confirmed to me that the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith is already prepared for a scenario of schism following the likely new consecrations,” Spuntoni told Montagna.

Spuntoni noted that the DDF  claims to have been “lenient” in its negotiations with the SSPX but intends to be “firm” with its response should the consecrations proceed.

READ: Bishop Schneider urges Pope Leo XIV: Grant ‘the episcopal consecrations of the SSPX’

The journalist further emphasized that according to his sources, the DDF “is concerned about the pastoral care of the persons (i.e. clergy) connected to the Society who do not intend to remain in it after a further break with Rome.”

Last week, Rorate Caeli reported that Pope Leo has already prepared a decree “similar, in tone and content, to the one that Pope John Paul II had promulgated through Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, on July 1, 1988.”

READ: Pope Leo is planning to excommunicate the SSPX: report

Like John Paul II, Leo would declare the SSPX bishops – both those consecrating and those newly consecrated – excommunicated ipso facto, meaning they would be automatically excommunicated and considered to have committed a “schismatic act” by participating in episcopal consecrations without papal approval.

Vatican correspondent Niwa Limbu claimed last week that according to his sources, the DDF “is preparing the possibility of an excommunication of the whole SSPX,” meaning all of the SSPX priests, not just the bishops. It is unclear whether he meant to include lay supporters of the SSPX in this claim.

SSPX Bishop Bernard Fellay himself, in a recent sermon in St. Mary’s, Kansas, affirmed that such forthcoming excommunications are very likely.

“I prefer not to be a prophet here, but I’m pretty sure that there is an enormous probability that all of you, we included, may be excommunicated, declared in schism, there is a very high probability because they already said it in public. So, they are, so to say, forcing themselves to do it. But whatever, God can do miracles. It’s not the end,” Fellay said.

🚨 Bishop Bernard Fellay of the SSPX delivered a stark warning in his April 19 homily in Kansas:

“There is an enormous probability that all of you — we included of course — may be excommunicated… There is a very high probability because they already said it in public so they… pic.twitter.com/T3LEeiWfbg

— John-Henry Westen (@JhWesten) April 27, 2026

Spuntoni further stressed to Montagna that his sources have not said whether the Vatican’s planned excommunications will apply only to the Society’s bishops participating in the consecrations or to its other members.