More than 140 faithful from the Archdiocese of Toronto have hand-delivered a letter to Cardinal Frank Leo, together with the full text of the Declaration of Catholic Faith presented to Pope Leo XIV by the superior general of the Society of St Pius X on May 14, asking the archbishop to act as mediator regarding the Society’s planned episcopal consecrations on July 1 in Écône, Switzerland.

The letter expresses the signatories’ “profound love for the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic and Roman Church” and their full adherence to the Declaration. They write that they adopt as their own the principles set out in the document concerning “the unity of the true faith, the sacrifice of the Holy Mass, the necessary conversion of all nations to Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the moral law founded upon the Decalogue and the Gospel”.

The Declaration, signed by Fr Davide Pagliarani on the Feast of the Ascension, affirms several doctrines that have become points of significant contention in recent years. It states: “There is only one Faith and one Church by which we may be saved. Outside the Roman Catholic Church, and without the profession of Faith that she has always taught, there is neither salvation nor remission of sins.”

It further declares that “every man must be a member of the Catholic Church in order to save his soul”, and that the missionary mandate to convert all nations “remains binding until the end of time”.

On the Holy Mass, the Declaration says: “The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the perpetuation in time of the Sacrifice of the Cross.” It adds that the Mass “can in no way be reduced to a mere commemoration, to a spiritual meal … without sacrifice, without satisfaction of divine justice, without expiation of sins, without propitiation, and without the Cross”.

The wording reflects long-standing concerns among traditional Catholics about some interpretations of the liturgy following the Second Vatican Council.

Regarding moral teaching, the document states: “Sins of impurity that are against nature are of such gravity that they always and in every circumstance cry to God for vengeance.” It adds that a couple “practising this vice must be helped to free themselves from it, and can in no way be blessed – formally or informally – by ministers of the Church”.

The affirmation comes amid continuing debate over pastoral approaches to irregular unions and same-sex relationships.

The petitioners ask Cardinal Leo to present their letter to the Holy Father “in a spirit of charity and pastoral concern”, in the hope that the forthcoming consecrations may receive paternal approval from the Holy See. They describe the Declaration as corresponding “to the minimum indispensable to be in communion with the Church, and to truly call ourselves Catholics”.

The SSPX has announced that four of its priests are to be consecrated bishops on July 1 at Écône. The Society has said that dossiers of the candidates were presented to the Holy Father with explanations regarding what it described as the “very particular and exceptional context” of the consecrations, while reaffirming its fidelity to the supreme authority of the Roman Pontiff.

Cardinal Leo, who was installed as Archbishop of Toronto in 2023 and elevated to the College of Cardinals in 2024, leads one of the largest and most diverse archdioceses in North America. The archdiocese includes faithful attached to the Traditional Latin Mass and has had to navigate the implementation of Traditionis Custodes.

The Toronto petition reflects wider concern among some traditional faithful over the canonical status of the SSPX and the continued availability of the Traditional Latin Mass and sacraments in full communion with the See of Peter.

The Society was founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in 1970 to preserve the traditional liturgy and priestly formation after the Second Vatican Council. In 1988, Archbishop Lefebvre consecrated four bishops without a papal mandate, resulting in automatic excommunications that were later lifted by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009.

Although Pope Francis later granted faculties relating to SSPX confessions and made provision for marriages involving the Society, full canonical regularisation has not been achieved.

The letter and the attached Declaration of Catholic Faith have now been formally received by Cardinal Leo’s office. No immediate response from the Archdiocese has been made public.