Vatican eyes 'gradual' resumption of talks with breakaway traditionalists after 2-year lull

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican says talks are resuming on trying to reconcile with a breakaway group of traditionalist Catholics.

The head of the Vatican's doctrine office met Tuesday with the head of the schismatic Society of St. Pius X. A Vatican statement said both sides agreed to "proceed gradually and over a reasonable amount of time" to examine their differences "with a view to the envisioned full reconciliation."

The late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre founded the Swiss-based society in 1969, opposed to the Second Vatican Council's introduction of Mass in the vernacular and outreach to Jews. In 1988, the Vatican excommunicated Lefebvre and four bishops after he consecrated them without papal consent.

Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI had made reconciling with the group a priority, but doctrinal talks broke down in 2012.