Tensions in the Catholic Church in Scandinavia are raised after the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X (SSPX) sharply rebuked a statement about the organisation and its priests that came from Cardinal Anders Arboreliu.
The cardinal asserted that the SSPX does not live and work in communion with the Holy See and that therefore the sacraments celebrated by its priests are “valid but illicit”.
The SSPX has issued a pointed rebuttal to Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Stockholm following his 15 August statement regarding the Society's canonical status and pastoral activities. In an open letter sent in response, dated 22 August, the SSPX asserts that the sacraments administered by its priests are both valid and licit, citing specific papal documents to support their position.
The Society's letter addresses several key points raised by Cardinal Arborelius. Notably, it references Pope Francis's 1 September 2015 decree granting faculties to SSPX priests for the valid and licit hearing of confessions, initially for the duration of the Year of Mercy and later extended indefinitely in the Apostolic Letter Misericordiaet Misera on 20 November 2016.
The SSPX contends that this extension indicates the Holy See's recognition of the pastoral benefit provided by their priests. Furthermore, the letter cites a 27 March 2017 communication from the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, which authorised local ordinaries to grant faculties for the celebration of marriages by FSSPX priests, explicitly stating that this decision was made "to reassure the conscience of the faithful".
In response to Cardinal Arborelius's assertion that the SSPX does not live and work in communion with the Holy See, the Society strongly disagrees, describing this statement as "manifestly false" and "a grave calumny”. The SSPX emphasises its adherence to the Catholic faith, submission to the authority of the Pope and the practice of praying for the Pope during Mass, which they argue demonstrates their communion with the Church.
The letter also challenges the Cardinal's claim that the SSPX's canonical status is unclear, pointing out the contradiction in labelling them as both in schism and having an unclear canonical status. The Society references statements from both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, indicating that the issues between the Holy See and the SSPX are doctrinal rather than disciplinary, and that the Society is considered part of the Church.
Regarding the registration of sacraments, the SSPX expresses concern over the cardinal's directive to exclude their sacraments from diocesan records, particularly for baptisms, confirmations and marriages. They argue that such actions contravene Canon Law, which mandates the recording of these sacraments to prevent confusion and potential sacrilegious repetition.
The statement was signed by Father Karl Stehlin, District Superior for Poland and Scandinavia for the SSPX, and by Father Håkan Lindström, SSPX Priest responsible for the Scandinavian Apostolate.
In his 15 August statement, Cardinal Arborelius called for unity within the Diocese of Stockholm and clarified the canonical status of the SSPX, cautioning Catholics against actions that might undermine ecclesial communion.
The SSPX is a traditionalist Catholic society of priests founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in Écône, Switzerland. It was established in response to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, particularly the changes to the liturgy and certain doctrinal interpretations, which the SSPX and his followers viewed as a departure from the Church’s traditional teachings.
The SSPX celebrates the traditional Latin Mass according to the 1962 Missal and is committed to preserving pre-conciliar forms of sacraments, catechesis and religious life. While the SSPX maintains that their activities are in line with Church teachings and serve the spiritual needs of the faithful, Church authorities continue to scrutinise their canonical status and the implications of their pastoral work.
The Vatican’s official Jubilee 2025 calendar recently listed a pilgrimage by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (SSPX), with the occasion marking a rare moment of visible accord following long-running tensions between SSPX and the Vatican.
The pilgrimage proved a success, with reports that the SSPX Jubilee pilgrimage saw around 8,000 participants parading through the Vatican on 21 August.
However, shortly after the pilgrimage, the Vatican appeared to have quietly removed all mention of the Society of St Pius X from the official Jubilee 2025 website calendar, despite earlier listings. While all other pilgrimages past, present and future remain listed, the SSPX pilgrimage was conspicuously absent.
RELATED: Vatican drops SSPX pilgrimage from official Jubilee 2025 calendar
Photo: Bishop of Stockholm and designated cardinal Anders Arborelius from Sweden attends a consistory for the creation of five new cardinals on June 28, 2017 at St Peter's basilica in Vatican. (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images.)
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