Biography of Bernard Tissier de Mallerais

Bernard Tissier de Mallerais (born 14 September 1945 in Sallanches; died 8 October 2024 in Switzerland) was a French Catholic cleric of the traditionalist Society of Saint Pius X. He was one of the four priests whom Marcel Lefebvre consecrated as bishops at Écône in 1988 without a papal mandate.

Training and entry into the SSPX

Tissier de Mallerais was born in the French Alps and joined the Society of Saint Pius X early in its history. He was trained at the seminary in Écône and was ordained a priest in 1975. Within the Society he worked as a teacher, later as rector of the seminary and as secretary general. His work remained closely tied to Écône and to the internal structure of the SSPX.

Écône 1988

On 30 June 1988 Lefebvre consecrated four priests as bishops at Écône: Bernard Fellay, Alfonso de Galarreta, Richard Williamson and Tissier de Mallerais. The consecrations took place without a papal mandate and were judged by the Holy See as a violation of church order. On 1 July 1988 the Congregation for Bishops declared the resulting excommunication.

Position within the Society

Tissier de Mallerais remained continuously present within the SSPX. He conferred confirmations, ordained priests and took part in the Society's theological and church-political discussions. His stance was strongly shaped by defence of the pre-conciliar liturgy and criticism of developments after the Second Vatican Council.

2009 and continuing tension with Rome

On 21 January 2009 Pope Benedict XVI, through the responsible congregation, lifted the excommunication of the four bishops consecrated in 1988. The decision was intended to make talks with the SSPX easier. It did not mean full canonical integration of the Society into the Roman Catholic Church. Relations between Rome and the SSPX remained tense.

Farewell

Tissier de Mallerais fell at the Écône seminary on 28 September 2024 and suffered serious head injuries. He died on 8 October 2024 at the age of 79. His death reduced the number of living SSPX bishops and was therefore discussed in connection with future consecrations.