The Society of Saint Pius X has been formally banned from holding their annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of Lourdes, as bishops around the world follow suit in enforcing the Vatican’s order for Catholics to avoid Society liturgies.
According to a letter appearing to be from Bishop Jean-Marc Micas and shared online this week, the SSPX are no longer permitted to go on pilgrimage to Lourdes. Dated August 13, the letter contained Micas’ firm rejection of the Society’s annual pilgrimage, citing the recent episcopal consecrations and the Holy See’s decree concerning the automatic excommunication of the six bishops involved.
“I cannot authorise the celebration of Mass or the administration of the other sacraments, nor even public prayers by the Society of Saint Pius X within the Sanctuary,” Micas wrote. “The authorisation to do so, which had hitherto been granted to the SSPX, is therefore withdrawn.”
While forbidding formal pilgrimages by the Society to Lourdes, Micas expressed his openness for anyone to make a private visit to the Shrine.
“I am well aware of the pain and perhaps the bewilderment that this decision will cause,” he wrote. “I entrust my decision to God’s mercy. Our sorrow is great at the sight of the tearing of Christ’s robe caused by our divisions. They scandalise the little ones and hinder our evangelical witness.”
An image of the letter was shared by French site Media-Presses Info, which remains the only source of the news. After several days wait, the Diocese of Lourdes-Tarbes has still not responded to the Catholic Herald’s request for comment about the authenticity of the note.
Though the letter was instantly trusted on by some commentators online, certain typographical anomalies in the letter gave the appearance of the text having been edited. However, a source close to the SSPX headquarters has recently confirmed to the Herald that Micas’ ban on the Society’s pilgrimage is legitimate.
Lourdes has been an annual fixture on the SSPX’s pilgrimage calendar for many years, with the Society previously using the Basilica of St. Pius X at the Shrine for their pilgrimage Masses and liturgies. This year’s planned pilgrimage was due to take place in October, with the U.K. registration being booked out. Details still live online for the 2026 pilgrimage, include a Mass in the Basilica of St. Pius X on the schedule.
As noted by Micas himself, permission for the event had been formally granted by the bishop in previous years, further revealing that his recent decision is predicated upon the episcopal consecrations and ruling of automatic excommunication.
The SSPX has submitted a “preliminary recourse” to the Holy See by way of the first step in the canonical process appealing the decree of excommunication published by the Vatican. Mixed messages on this front have emerged from the Society: many theological op-eds published by the SSPX have denied the legitimacy of the excommunication.
However, by appealing the excommunication, the Society have taken a different approach to that of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who cited canons 1323 and 1324 in 1988 as exculpating him from the exacting penalty of excommunication for the consecrations he performed.
In submitting the appeal, the SSPX stated that it thus began a temporary suspension of the penalties in the decree they are appealing. For Micas, however, this aspect did not change his decision regarding use of the Shrine.
“The Fraternity has lodged an appeal against this decree, which merely confirms the excommunication: it does not substantially alter the underlying cause of the excommunication,” he said.
The Holy See has 30 “useful” days (working days) to respond to the Society’s appeal, after which time the SSPX may continue with the next steps of the canonical process. At the time of publication, no public response has been made by the Holy See to the Society’s July 11 appeal.
While Micas’ decision is not unexpected, some commentators have highlighted the apparent double standard on display. Anglican pilgrimages to the Shrine have been permitted for a number of years, with records dating even to the early 1960’s detailing such pilgrimages receiving a formal welcome from the bishop.
In 2008, then-current Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams led several Anglican clergy in an Anglican Eucharist held in the upper basilica at the Shrine. The event was approved by the Shrine authorities and given the support of Cardinal Walter Kasper, who served as president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity at the time.
Michael Haynes is an English journalist in the Holy See Press Corps. He serves as Vatican Correspondent for the Catholic Herald, while readers can follow him at Per Mariam and on X @MLJHaynes.
