“Patience, serenity, perseverance and trust are needed” as the Vatican continues talks aimed at full reconciliation with the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, said a statement from the Vatican commission overseeing the discussions.

The Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, in a statement released Oct. 27, said the leadership of the SSPX had requested “additional time for reflection and study” before responding to Pope Benedict’s latest efforts to reintegrate them into the Church.

“A culminating point along this difficult path” was reached June 13 when the commission gave the SSPX a final “doctrinal declaration together with a proposal for the canonical normalization of its status within the Catholic Church,” the statement said.