Personal Prelature for the SSPX?

The Catholic Herald and numerous other sources are reporting that the Vatican and the SSPX are “close to agreement”.

How close? Rome is even pencilling in dates: May 13, the centenary of the Fatima apparitions, and July 7, the 10th anniversary of Summorum Pontificum, in which Benedict swept away restrictions on the celebration of the Old Mass.

Mainstream traditionalists are baffled. Why would the SSPX knock back an offer from Benedict, who rehabilitated their liturgy and their bishops, only to accept it from Francis, who seems to dislike everything about the pre-conciliar Church and – in the opinion of some cardinals – is beckoning adulterers to the altar rail?

Fellay’s latest interview points to a possible answer: Rome is prepared to compromise on acceptance of the Second Vatican Council….

The arguments over these texts – and the degree of recognition that the SSPX needs to give them – are fiendishly technical. But perhaps there is no need to go into them here because, to put it diplomatically, Francis is not terribly interested in fine print.

Or, as a source in the SSPX puts it: “He has zero interest in theology, and therefore he doesn’t really care if we continue to reject Vatican II. He’s far more authoritarian than Benedict, and if he decides he wants this deal then he’ll clear obstacles out of the way. Then no one will dare contradict him.”

Please pray for unity.