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Archbishop Gänswein says 'radical fringe' prevailed in SSPX, calls for repeal of Traditionis Custodes (Corriere della Sera)

Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the private secretary of the late Pope Benedict, decried the illicit consecration of four new SSPX bishops and said that “the story of the Lefebvrists is not a liturgical question,” as “their understanding of tradition is not tradition.”

“Rather, they cement the Catholic tradition up to Pius XII,” explained Archbishop Gänswein, now apostolic nuncio to three Baltic nations. “After that everything was over for them, that’s it, from that moment there were only mistakes.”

In remitting the excommunications of the four bishops illicitly consecrated in 1988, Pope Benedict was “like a father who tries to create peace—an outstretched hand that, unfortunately, they did not accept,” Archbishop Gänswein continued. “There was a radical fringe that prevailed.”

The prelate called for the repeal of Traditionis Custodes, Pope Francis’s 2021 apostolic letter restricting the extraordinary form of the Mass: “a wrong decision can and must be corrected ... I believe that Pope Francis has made a mistake, without realizing it.”

SSPX leader, in letter to Pope, reacts to Vatican's excommunication decree (Society of Saint Pius X)

Condemning the Vatican’s decree of excommunication as “objectively unjust and invalid,” the superior general of the Society of Saint Pius X said in a letter to Pope Leo XIV that what the SSPX “has done, and will continue to do, is nothing other than an extraordinary initiative for the salvation of souls, amidst the doctrinal and moral confusion into which the Church is plunged.”

“We in no way claim to substitute ourselves for the Church, and we have no ambition other than to remain faithful to her,” Father Davide Pagliarani wrote in his July 3 letter. “In conscience, we did not believe we could evade the moral duty we owe to souls.”

“We are certain that one day You yourself, or one of Your successors, will wish to adopt the program of Saint Pius X: ‘To restore all things in Christ,’” Father Pagliarani added. “On that day, the Holy Father will discover, with great joy and profound consolation, authentically Catholic souls whose bond with the Church was never founded upon the shifting sands of an ambiguous dialogue, but upon the rock of the faith of Peter.”

In letter to Americans, Pope Leo marks 250th anniversary of USA's founding (CWN)

Pope Leo XIV marked the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America with a letter extending “heartfelt congratulations to all Americans on the occasion.”

Accepting Liberty Medal, Pope hails Declaration's 'lofty ideals,' stresses right to life, religious freedom (CWN)

Pope Leo XIV accepted the Liberty Medal from the National Constitution Center and, in a July 3 video address (49:05), hailed the “lofty ideals enshrined at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence.”

Philippine bishop denounces corruption as grave sin, urges faithful to take action (Licas.news)

The chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Commission on Interreligious Dialogue denounced corruption as a “grave sin of theft and betrayal of the people.”

“We cannot remain silent while funds meant for the poor are being stolen,” Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan said on June 28. “We cannot remain silent while the people’s treasury is being turned into the personal wealth of a few. We cannot remain silent while corruption continues to destroy the future of our children.”

“It is not enough to pray for change,” Bishop Bagaforo added. “We must also stand up for change. It is not enough to ask for good governance. We must also demand accountability.”

Colombia's President Petro meets with Pontiff, discusses land reform (CWN)

Pope Leo XIV received President Gustavo Petro of Colombia on July 2, a month before a new Colombian president is scheduled to take office.

Nicaraguan regime detains bishop (EWTN News)

The Nicaraguan regime detained a retired bishop after he publicly prayed for the persecuted Church in Nicaragua.

Police detained Bishop Abelardo Mata, 80, on June 29, released him, and detained him again the following day. The prelate is the retired bishop of Estelí.

Lithuanian foreign minister meets with Vatican counterpart, welcomes Holy See's support for Ukraine (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania)

Lithuania’s acting minister of foreign affairs met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, during the prelate’s visit to the Baltic nation in commemoration of the centenary of the Lithuanian ecclesiastical province.

“Lithuania and the Holy See enjoy a long-standing warm relationship built on mutual respect,” said Kęstutis Budrys. “Lithuania highly appreciates the role of the Holy See in our country’s resistance against the Soviet occupation and in the restoration of an independent state of Lithuania, and, in the context of today’s realities, its support for Ukraine.”

“We stand ready to work together to increase pressure on Russia and achieve a sustainable, just peace in Ukraine,” Budrys added.

Nigerian catechist dies in terrorists' den after torture, starvation; 4 others murdered (Foundation for Investigative Journalism)

The Archdiocese of Kaduna, Nigeria, announced the deaths of five men taken captive by terrorists in February, according to a report from the Nigerian Foundation for Investigative Journalism.

“Catechist Victor Paul succumbed to severe torture, preventable illness, and starvation, while the others were brutally murdered by their captors,” according to the archdiocesan announcement. Two dozen other captives, including Paul’s son and pregnant wife, regained their freedom in a series of releases.

Pope, in video, prays for protection of right to life (CWN)

The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network released the video associated with Pope Leo’s prayer intention for July.