NCR Staff Rome Pope John Paul II may be on the verge of ending the only formal schism of his tenure, a 1988 rupture with devotees of the Latin Mass, according to reports in Europe and in traditionalist Catholic circles. Negotiations initiated by the Vatican have been underway with followers of the late French Archbishop Marcel Lefevbre since the summer of 1999. When Lefevbre ordained four bishops in 1988 to continue his movement, the Vatican declared a formal schism and excommunicated Lefevbre and the bishops. The only personal prelature in the Catholic church at this time is Opus Dei, a global movement that describes itself as promoting holiness in everyday life.
Members fall under the jurisdiction of a prelate rather than a local bishop.
Armed services are typically served by ordinates, non-geographical dioceses headed by a bishop. Many of the Eastern churches in communion with Rome are patriarchates, or groups of believers under the authority of a patriarch. The common denominator is that each group has its own bishop and hence is not subject to control by diocesan bishops. Sources say this is a key point for the Pius X society, which fears that some local bishops might try to move members away from their allegiance to the Latin Mass and other traditional Catholic beliefs and practices. According to sources, John Paul II is eager to heal the schism, perhaps as early as mid-April in time for Easter celebrations.