The pope’s motu proprio for expanding access to the 1962 mass has been greeted with enthusiasm in some traditional circles. But those who may have the most to gain from it, the schismatic members of the Society of St. Piux X, seem to be waiting for more:

Excommunicated Bishop Bernard Fellay, head of the Swiss-based society, said the papal decision had created a “favorable climate” to consider the doctrinal issues more calmly.

“The Society of St. Pius X rejoices to see the church thus regain her liturgical tradition and give the possibility of a free access to the treasure of the traditional Mass for the glory of God, the good of the church and the salvation of souls, to the priests and faithful who had so far been deprived of it,” the statement said.

The society expressed “its deep gratitude to the sovereign pontiff for this great spiritual benefit.”

The statement went on to say that the Vatican should withdraw excommunication decrees against the society’s leadership to allow further progress in their dialogue.

The society, which rejects many of the changes introduced by the Second Vatican Council, broke with the Vatican in 1988 when its late founder, French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, ordained four bishops against papal instructions. Bishop Fellay was one of those ordained.

It will be interesting to see how far the pope is willing to go for a group that has proven itself reluctant to make any sort of compromise — and that is still, at this date, unapologetically disobedient.