February 22, 2026, Cardinal Robert Sarah—a respected voice for tradition in the Church—published an impassioned essay in the French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche. Titled “Before it is too late!”, it’s a direct intervention against the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X’s (SSPX’s) announcement of episcopal ordinations without papal mandate.
Sarah calls this a grave threat to Church unity, urging fidelity to the Pope as the successor of Peter. Among his strongest words: “One cannot claim to disobey the Church in order to save it. Disobedience to the Pope cannot be the ordinary path of salvation for souls.” And even more pointedly: “It is through obedience that Christ saved the world. It is not by rebellion that we will save the Church.”
These quotes capture his core plea: stay in the boat of Peter, no matter the storm. Now, with that context, here’s my response to His Eminence.