Bishop Rifan Receives Cordial Words from Leo XIV – But Needs a Successor

Bishop Fernando Arêas Rifan, 75, was received on November 15 by Pope Leo XIV. He is the Apostolic Administrator of São João Maria Vianney, in Campos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which is committed to the Roman Rite. He is the only "official" Bishop of the Roman rite.
On November 17, he described the 30-minute audience on dapostolica.org. He recounted to Leo XIV the history of his Administration, which originated with Bishop Antônio de Castro Mayer of Campos (+1991), who had joined Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.
Bishop Rifan presented Leo XIV with some of his books, articles, and explanations: “I spoke about our theological and spiritual path, about how we emerged from a state of separation from the Church and how we came to understand the necessity of communion, in which we now find ourselves, thanks to God and to the Church.”
Leo XIV asked him several questions about his position, which Monsignor Rifan answered "correctly", leaving the Pope "satisfied": "He realized that we are very different …More