Rome, Italy, Jun 3, 2010 / 13:35 pm
Commenting on the Pope's ongoing efforts to bring the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church, Vatican writer Sandro Magister noted on Wednesday that some traditionalist groups have already "made their peace with Rome." However, because of his efforts, Pope Benedict has become “the target of intolerance,” Magister said.
After commenting on the criticism made about the Pope for his continued efforts to approach the SSPX, Magister referred to an article published in L'Osservatore Romano on May 11 by Fr. Giancarlo Rocca in which he recounted the work of the Ecclesia Dei Commission to bring various splinter groups back into the fold.
The article explains that the foundation of Ecclesia Dei by John Paul II in 1988 came about in response to episcopal ordinations carried out that same year by the founder of the SSPX, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. The objective of the pontifical commission, wrote Fr. Rocca, was to bring those groups that split from SSPX at that point back into full communion.
Since then, more than 10 institutions have returned to Rome, including the formidable priestly fraternity of Saint Peter during the commission's first year. Listing the other examples, Rocca observed, "The progress made by 'Ecclesia Dei' in these nearly twenty-two years has been significant."