Norway

Following the excommunications of the SSPX bishops, Bishop Fredrik Hansen of Oslo has appealed to Catholics attached to the Traditional Latin Mass to remain in communion with Rome. He also said he is willing to expand provision for the 1962 Missal in the Diocese of Oslo Bishop Fredrik Hansen, the Bishop of Oslo in Norway, has offered to expand provision for the Traditional Latin Mass in his diocese following the excommunications of the bishops of the Society of Saint Pius X. The 47-year-old prelate, who has served as bishop since July last year, explained that the “four bishops who were ordained removed themselves from ecclesial communion and from unity with the Pope” by taking part in the consecrations without papal mandate. He further said that the bishops had “incurred the most grave ecclesiastical penalty: latae sententiae excommunication”. The bishop also addressed one of the most significant consequences of the consecrations: whether SSPX priests can validly hear confessions and grant absolution. He stated that the “priests belonging to the Society, now marked by the schismatic act and its consequences, can no longer validly grant absolution in the sacrament of confession.” This is a contested point among SSPX priests and faithful, who argue that canon law, which exists for the salvation of souls, still allows them to validly administer absolution. Towards the end of the letter, the bishop turned his attention to “the Catholics of our diocese who feel a draw toward and affection for the pre-conciliar liturgy and its associated spirituality, and who have therefore attended Masses celebrated in our diocese by priests from the Society”. He acknowledged that “these are difficult and distressing days for you” and that “you may find yourselves pulled in different directions.” His first instruction to these Catholics is “to hold fast to unity with our Holy Father, the Bishop of Rome, and with me as Bishop of Oslo.” In response to their attraction to the pre-conciliar liturgy, the bishop wrote: “I understand this,” and advised them that “Masses according to the 1962 Missal are celebrated every Sunday at St. Joseph Church in Oslo”. He further assured them that “if there is a need for it, and if it would be for the good of the Church and of souls, I will also expand this form of Mass celebration in our local Church.” The Society of Saint Pius X currently celebrates two Masses each week in Oslo, both at a Society chapel in the Ullern borough, in the western part of the city. The Society also has a presence in Stavanger, a city in southwestern Norway, and Bergen, also in the southwest of the country. The Masses are generally celebrated by Fr Raivo Kokis, an Estonian priest of the Society, and Fr Håkan Lindström, a Swedish SSPX priest. Just 3 per cent of Norway’s population is estimated to be Catholic. The country has one diocese, the Diocese of Oslo, which Bishop Hansen leads, and two missionary territorial prelatures, both led by Bishop Erik Varden. Both bishops are notably young, are converts to Catholicism, and studied in England. They have also had a noticeable impact across the wider Church, with Bishop Varden being chosen to lead the annual Lenten Spiritual Exercises for Pope Leo XIV and the Roman Curia this year. Bishop Hansen’s letter is reproduced in full below: Announcement from Bishop Fredrik Hansen on the “SSPX” and the Excommunications Diocese of Oslo July 3, 2026 Dear brothers in priestly ministry, Dear faithful, (1) “By unity with the bishop of Rome, in fellowship and in the profession of the true faith, the Church of Christ is one flock under the supreme shepherd. This is the teaching of Catholic truth, and no one can depart from it without endangering his own faith and salvation” (Vatican I, Pastor Æternus, ch. III). (2) Our unity with the bishop of the Roman Church, with the Pope, is a concrete expression of our belonging to the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, which Our Lord Jesus Christ founded to “spread the truth” to all people (Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, 8). (3) On July 1st — contrary to Pope Leo XIV’s earnest and fatherly appeal, and without the required pontifical mandate — four priests belonging to the Society of Saint Pius X (also known as the “St. Pius X Fraternity” or the SSPX) were consecrated as bishops at Écône in Switzerland. The consecrating bishop and one co-consecrating bishop also belong to this society. (4) The two consecrating bishops and the four bishops who were ordained removed themselves from ecclesial communion and from unity with the Pope by this act (ipso facto). They thereby incurred the most grave ecclesiastical penalty: latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See (CIC, can. 1387). (5) The Church and her unity have been dealt a serious wound. This is sad, painful, and calls us to prayer and penance. As a concrete expression of this, I urge you all to pray the Rosary for the unity of the Church on the Feast of Saint Sunniva, July 8, 2026. (6) The Apostolic See has defined the episcopal consecration at Écône as a “schismatic act” (Explanatory Note from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, July 2, 2026). The same document also points out that the priests belonging to the Society, now marked by the schismatic act and its consequences, can no longer validly grant absolution in the sacrament of confession. (7) In order not to spread and further aggravate the consequences of this schismatic act, the Holy See’s appeal is clear: stand firm and stand secure in unity with the Pope and with the bishops in communion with him. This means that Catholics should refrain from participating in Masses and other activities organized by the Society of Saint Pius X. (8) A word to the Catholics of our diocese who feel a draw toward and affection for the pre-conciliar liturgy and its associated spirituality, and who have therefore attended Masses celebrated in our diocese by priests from the Society: I understand that these are difficult and distressing days for you. You may find yourselves pulled in different directions, and perhaps stand bewildered before all that has now come to pass. Some of you may be experiencing uncertainty about the future. (9) As your shepherd, I therefore offer you an encouragement and some words about what lies ahead. The encouragement is simple: hold fast to unity with our Holy Father, the Bishop of Rome, and with me as Bishop of Oslo. (10) As for the future: You wish to be able to take part in the liturgical celebration according to the 1962 Missal. Many of you also look to a spiritual expression and a spirituality shaped by the pre-conciliar liturgy. I understand this. Masses according to the 1962 Missal are celebrated every Sunday at St. Joseph Church in Oslo. This will continue. If there is a need for it, and if it would be for the good of the Church and of souls, I will also expand this form of Mass celebration in our local Church. (11) In closing: Pray for unity in the Church. Pray for the Pope. And pray that those who have now placed themselves outside ecclesial communion will repent and return.