Ecclesiae Unitatem

Ecclesiae Unitatem (Unity of the Church) is a motu proprio issued by the Holy See on 8 July 2009. It was signed by Pope Benedict XVI on 2 July. It attaches the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, with the prefect of the CDF, now ex offico president of Ecclessia Dei. William Cardinal Levada will now lead the dialogue with groups dealing with the Missal of Bl. John XXIII. Cardinal Levada's role will princapally focus on bringing groups like the Society of Saint Pius X back into communion with Rome, through disscussions which are expected to begin with SSPX in September 2009. The liturgical competences granted to the PCED by Summorum Pontificum and other pontifical acts seem to remain with the PCED, even after this restructuring. The liturgical governance of the extraordinary form (e.g. liturgical calendar questions) are not discussed within Ecclesiae Unitatem and are assumed to remain with the PCED and its principal officer dealing with the extraordinary form, its secretary, Msgr. Pozzo. The original mandate and scope of action of the PCED was much larger than the SSPX question (and was princapally to maintain good relations with the communities who now celebrate, or who will celebrate the Latin Mass under Summorum Pontificum, such as the IBP, the FSSP and other.