I asked AI: Yes, the SSPX repeatedly sought episcopal ordinations during Pope Benedict XVI's pontificate, notably during Cardinal Müller's tenure as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). [1, 2] The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) sought episcopal consecrations to continue ordaining their priests, but the Holy See consistently made any canonical regularization or approval contingent on the SSPX’s full acceptance of the Second Vatican Council. [1, 2] Here is how those negotiations and requests unfolded during Pope Benedict's reign: Dialogue and Doctrinal Discussions: From 2009 to 2011, Vatican theologians and the SSPX engaged in intensive doctrinal discussions. Pope Benedict XVI had lifted the excommunications of the surviving bishops in 2009 in hopes of facilitating full reconciliation. [1, 2] Müller's Appointment & Demands: Pope Benedict appointed Archbishop Gerhard Müller as Prefect of the CDF and President of the Ecclesia Dei Commission in July 2012. In late 2014, Cardinal Müller received SSPX Bishop Bernard Fellay in Rome. [1] The Impasse: Cardinal Müller, acting on behalf of the Holy See, demanded that the SSPX explicitly accept the teachings of the Second Vatican Council and the legitimacy of the post-conciliar Mass. [1] Unresolved Requests: Because the SSPX leadership refused to fully accept Vatican II, they were denied a pontifical mandate for new bishops, leaving their status "canonically irregular". [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] Would you like to know more about the doctrinal obstacles the SSPX cited, or how the Vatican's ongoing negotiations and recent 2026 episcopal consecrations have impacted their status? [1]
Cardinal Müller served as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for only about six months under Pope Benedict XVI, from July 2012 until Benedict's resignation in February 2013, and by that point the Pope's authority had already been significantly weakened. Later, Pope Francis was elected, and the direction of Church policy changed by 180 degrees. It is unlikely that any serious negotiations took place during such a short period. If both sides had known what would happen, I believe they would have acted differently, assuming, of course, that Pope Benedict had remained in better health. If the Pope was willing to allow the return of the bishops, why wouldn't he also have permitted ordinations? We simply do not know what was happening behind the scenes or what kind of pressure the Pope may have been under at that time.
I heard one Cardinal grabbed him, shook the poor man and threw him against the wall threatening him. Pope Benedict himself said his authority ended at the office door.
Bishop Fellay has described how Pope Benedict did apparently appoint bishops to the order and created a pereonal prelature for them, but Muller covered that up and refused to send on the letter and then Benedict had to resign etc.
