Davide Pagliarani

Davide Pagliarani, SSPX (born 25 October 1970) is an Italian traditionalist Catholic priest of the Society of St. Pius X and has served as its superior general since 2018. Pagliarani entered the Society of St. Pius X's seminary in Flavigny-sur-Ozerain in 1989. Following his studies, he completed military service. Pagliarani was ordained a Priest of the Society of St. Pius X in 1996 by the then-Superior General, Bishop Bernard Fellay. Fr. Pagliarani ministered in Rimini for seven years, before being transferred to Singapore for a further three years. He then became Superior of the District of Italy between 2006 and 2012, becoming rector of the Nuestra Señora Corredentora Seminary in the Province of Buenos Aires from 2012.[1]

Pagliarani attempted to join the sedeprivationist Instituto Mater Bonii Consilii in 2001, but did not end up becoming a member.

On July 11, 2018, the general chapter of the Society of St. Pius X elected Pagliarani as the superior general for 12 years.[2] Pagliarani is believed to advocate a more hardline approach concerning Vatican relations relative to his predecessor as superior general, yet he did meet Cardinal Luis Ladaria Ferrer, president of the Ecclesia Dei Commission on November 2, 2018, at the Vatican.[1] However, the talks between the Society and the Holy See has weakened since 2019 because of the views of Pagliarani.

Taking a rather different path from his predecessor, Pagliarani is known to be an outspoken critic of Pope Francis. Even before his election as the Superior General, he had already criticized and denounced Francis' Amoris Laetitia. Following the events occurred in the Amazon Synod in 2019, Pagliarani called for "a day of prayer and reparation" and called the synod "demonic" and "idolatrous."[3] In October 2020, Pagliarani criticized the Laudato si' encyclical for its reduction of Christian sanctity to environmentalism, ecumenism of the Document on Human Fraternity and its extension to the encyclical Fratelli tutti.[4] Recently, Pagliarani lamented on the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes issued by Francis whereby restricting the use of the Tridentine Mass all over the world. He said in his sermon: "why is this Mass the 'apple of discord'? why does this Mass divide?" and criticized the pope again saying "the pope and his accomplices are the jail guards of tradition. They are guardians of the zoo..."[5] He also issued a communiqué regarding the motu proprio stating "This Mass, our Mass, must really be for us, like the Pearl of Great Price in the Gospel, for which we are ready to renounce everything, for which we are ready to sell everything."[6]