Protocol Number 126/2009

(Unofficial translation)

In a letter sent on 15 December 2008, to His Eminence Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, President of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei", Bishop Bernard Fellay, sought once more, for himself as well as for the other three bishops consecrated on 30 June 1988, the lifting of the latae sententiae excommunication officially declared by the decree of the Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops issued on 1 July 1988.

In this letter, Bishop Fellay says, among other things: "We remain strongly committed in our desire to remain Catholic and to put all our forces in the service of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Roman Catholic Church. We accept His teachings in a filial spirit. We strongly believe in the primacy of Peter and his prerogatives, and for this reason the current situation makes us suffer so much."

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI - sensitive as a father would be to the spiritual unease expressed by those involved in the penalty of excommunication, and confident in their good will expressed in the letter cited, sparing no effort to delve into the issues still open through discussions with the authorities of the Holy See, in order to quickly reach a full and satisfactory solution to the problem in principle - has decided to reconsider the canonical situation of the bishops Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson and Alfonso de Galarreta, which arose at their Episcopal consecration.

Through this act, we want to consolidate the relations of mutual trust, strengthen and stabilize the bonds between the Society of Saint Pius X and the Apostolic See. 

This gift of peace, following the celebration of Christmas, will also be a sign to promote unity in the charity of the universal Church and will serve to eliminate the scandal of division.

It is hoped that this step will be followed by the speedy realization of full communion of the whole of the Society of Saint Pius X with the Church, thus reflecting the true loyalty and true recognition of the Magisterium and authority of the Pope with the evidence of visible unity.

Based on the faculties that have been expressly granted by the Holy Father Benedict XVI, and by virtue of this decree, I accord to Bishop Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson and Alfonso de Galarreta the lifting of the latae sententiae excommunication decreed by the Congregation on 1 July 1988, and I declare ineffective, as today's date, the decree issued at that time.

Rome, the Congregation for Bishops on 21 January 2009.

 Card.  Giovanni Battista Re
 Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops