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Vatican excommunicates six ultraconservative bishops over ordination ... Source: Video Screenshot The Vatican excommunicated six bishops from the ultraconservative Society of St. Pius X on Thursday, while warning that any lay believers who “formally adhere” to the breakaway Catholic group would suffer the same fate. The Vatican decree comes a day after the traditionalist group consecrated four new bishops, openly defying a plea from Pope Leo XIV to desist and exacerbating a rift dating from 1988 when the group earlier consecrated four bishops. Calling the ceremony “an act of schismatic nature,” the Vatican’s powerful Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith — which is charged with defending Catholic doctrine — explained in an accompanying note that the consecrations were “in open violation of canonic law” and the excommunicated bishops “schismatics.” For the Holy See, consecrating bishops without the approval of the pope, the head of the Catholic Church ruling over some 1.4 billion faithful, is a direct act of insubordination, leading to the automatic excommunication of the bishops involved. The excommunication covers the newly-ordained bishops — two French, an American and a Swiss…

Breakaway Catholic group rejects Vatican talks, indicating collision course for pope | AP News Pope Leo XIV presides over Ash Wednesday Mass, marking the start of the Catholic Lent, inside the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) The shadow of the crucifix surmounting his pastoral staff falls across Pope Leo XIV as he presides over Ash Wednesday Mass, marking the start of Catholic Lent, inside the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Pope Leo XIV presides over Ash Wednesday Mass, marking the start of the Catholic Lent, inside the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) ROME (AP) — Abreakaway Catholic traditionalist groupon Thursday rejected the Vatican’s offer of talks, suggesting a collision course with Pope Leo XIV over its planned consecrations of new bishops without his consent. In a letter to the Vatican’s doctrine chief, the Society of St. Pius X said the Holy See’s threat of sanctions and schism if it goes ahead with the July 1 ceremony “is hardly compatible with a genuine desire for fraternal exchanges and constructive dialo…

What to know about the breakaway traditionalist Catholics defying Pope ... Vatican Vatican News From left Marc Hanappier, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry, Michael Goldade and Pascal Schreiber pray during their consecration ceremony as bishops in a tent set up outside the Society of St. Pius X seminary, in Econe, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP/Baz Ratner) Nicole Winfield View Author Profile Jamey Keaten View Author Profile Associated Press View Author Profile Join the Conversation Send your thoughts to Letters to the Editor . Learn more Écône, Switzerland — July 1, 2026 Share on Bluesky Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email to a friend Print The ultratraditionalist Society of St. Pius X is defying Pope Leo XIV by consecrating four bishops without his consent at its seminary in Econe, Switzerland. The move incurs an automatic excommunication for the bishops involved, and amounts to a "schismatic act" — or a willful rupture of unity in the Catholic Church. The ancient Latin Mass and ceremony, celebrated July 1 before thousands of faithful , marks the first major crisis for Leo. The American pope has prioritized church unity and healing tensions with traditionalists that worse…

Vatican declares ultraconservative society in schism, excommunicates ... Spanish born traditionalist Catholic Bishop of the Society of Saint Pius X Alfonso de Galarreta walks during a procession prior to the schismatic consecration of bishops by the traditionalist Catholic Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) in Econe, western Switzerland, on Wednesday. Fabrice Coffrini / AFP via Getty Images Share Add NBC News to Google July 2, 2026, 4:13 AM EDT / Updated July 2, 2026, 6:36 AM EDT / Source : The Associated Press By The Associated Press The Vatican responded aggressively Thursday to a traditionalist society that consecrated bishops without the pope’s consent, declaring the Society of St. Pius X in schism, excommunicating its bishops and priests and warning its faithful they too face the harshest sanctions in the Catholic Church. Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscription Get exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading. The Vatican’s doctrine office went above and beyond the minimum sanctions foreseen by the church’s canon law to respond to the consecrations Wednesday of four new bishops at the society’s Econe, Switzerland, seminary. The society, known by its acronym SSPX, ce…

Pope issues plea to breakaway traditionalist group to back off ... - Chron Pope Leo XIV holds his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Alessandra Tarantino/AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday issued a plea to a breakaway group of traditionalist Catholics to call off its plan to consecrate new bishops without his consent, describing the move as a schismatic act and a “sin of extreme gravity.” “I plead with you and ask you with all my heart: please turn back!” Leo wrote in a letter to the Rev. Davide Pagliarani, the superior of the Society of St. Pius X. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Leo issued the last-ditch appeal a day before the society plans to consecrate four new bishops at its seminary in Econe, Switzerland. Under church law, the consecrations constitute a schismatic act, or an intentional rupture of the unity of the Catholic Church, and incur automatic excommunication for the four bishops and the bishop administering the consecration. Pagliarani responded by writing a formal letter to Leo asking him to take time before deciding any penalty. “Far be it from us to separate ourselve…

Catholic Rebels Openly Defy Pope Leo as Bishops Consecrated - Newsweek By Jordan King Reporter 0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Pope Leo XIV is facing what many Vatican observers have described as the first major crisis of his pontificate after the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), a breakaway traditionalist Catholic group, moved ahead on Wednesday with plans to consecrate four bishops without papal approval, risking one of the most serious ruptures between Rome and the priestly fraternity in decades. The consecration ceremony began on Wednesday morning at the SSPX's seminary in Écône, Switzerland, despite repeated warnings from the Vatican that proceeding without the pope's mandate would constitute a schismatic act and could result in excommunication for those involved. The consecrations mark the SSPX's most significant act of defiance since Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who founded the group in 1970, illicitly consecrated four bishops in 1988, triggering excommunications and a decades-long dispute with Rome. Read More on News ... ... 1 of 2 Bishop …

Vatican excommunicates bishops and members of breakaway ultra ... Newly consecrated Bishops, from left, Marc Hanappier, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry, Michael Goldade and Pascal Schreiber stand at the end of their consecration ceremony at the Society of St. Pius X seminary in Econe, Switzerland, on Wednesday, July 1. Baz Ratner/AP Religion The Pope See all topics Facebook Tweet Email Link Threads Link Copied! Follow Rome — The Vatican announced Thursday that priests and members of a breakaway Catholic group that ordained four new bishops in defiance of Pope Leo XIV’s wishes are in schism and excommunicated. The Society of Saint Pius X, an ultra-traditionalist group, went ahead with the ordinations on Wednesday without papal approval and despite appeals from Leo to reverse the decision. In response, the Vatican’s doctrinal office on Thursday published a decree saying that the four bishops are excommunicated, along with the two bishops who participated in the ordination ceremony. Excommunication means they are excluded from the sacraments of the church. It added in an explanatory note that priests belonging to the society and lay members who “formally adhere” to the group are also in sc…

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican responded aggressively Thursday to a traditionalist society that consecrated bishops without the pope’s consent, declaring theSociety of St. Pius Xin schism, excommunicating its bishops and priests and warning its faithful they too face the harshest sanctions in the Catholic Church. The Vatican’s doctrine office went above and beyond the minimal sanctions foreseen by the church’s canon law to respond tothe consecrations Wednesdayof four new bishops at the society’s Econe, Switzerland, seminary. The society, known by its acronym SSPX, celebrates the ancient Latin Mass and opposes the modernizing reforms of the Catholic Church, which it considers to be rife with heresies and errors and has accused of straying from the Catholic faith. During a ritual-filled, five-hour Mass on Wednesday, attended by some 15,500 people and their children, the SSPX consecrated four new bishops in direct defiance ofPope Leo XIV, who had urged the SSPX to hold off for the sake of the church's unity. In a decree, the Vatican excommunicated the four new bishops and the two bishops who participated in the ceremony. It declared the consecrations a “schismatic act” and declar…

Vatican excommunicates schismatic bishops and priests, and warns their ... The Society of St. Pius X, which opposes modernizing reforms in the Catholic Church, went ahead with a ritual-filled ceremony at its seminary in Econe, Switzerland, despite a last-ditch appeal by Leo to call it off. (AP video: Jamey Keaten) The Vatican responded aggressively Thursday to a traditionalist group that consecrated bishops without the pope’s consent, declaring the Society of St. Pius X had formally broken with the Catholic Church. Newly consecrated Bishops, from left, Marc Hanappier, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry, Michael Goldade and Pascal Schreiber wearing their miters and holding their pastoral staffs, stand at the end of their consecration ceremony in a tent set up outside the Society of St. Pius X seminary in Econe, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner) Newly consecrated Bishops, from left, Pascal Schreiber, Michael Goldade, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry and Marc Hanappier, wearing their miters and holding their pastoral staffs, pray at the end of their consecration ceremony in a tent set up outside the Society of St. Pius X seminary in Econe, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 1,…

Pope Leo pleads with breakaway Catholic group not to commit 'sin of extreme gravity' Pope Leo XIV issued an urgent plea to the Society of St. Pius X to halt bishop consecrations without Vatican approval, warning of excommunication.

Pope Leo XIV Urges Traditionalist Catholic Group To Halt Planned Bishop ... Edited by:Darko Janjevic World Catholic leader Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday appealed to a group of ultra-traditionalist Catholics not to go ahead with its planned consecration of bishops on Wednesday, an act that could lead to a full schism with the Vatican. The group, the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), was founded in 1970 by Catholics who opposed the liberal reforms to the church introduced by the 1960s Second Vatican Council. "I plead with you and ask you with all my heart: Please turn back!” Leo wrote in a letter to the Rev. Davide Pagliarani, the superior of the Society of St. Pius X, calling the plan a schismatic act and a "sin of extreme gravity." In the letter, the pontiff repeated that the Vatican was prepared to enter into a dialogue and warned of negative impacts for those involved. "I urge you to consider carefully the spiritual good of the faithful, because the schismatic act you are about to undertake would deprive them of the licit, and in some cases, even valid reception of the sacraments,” he wrote. Under Catholic Church law, any consecration of bishops that is not authorized by the Vatican…

Vatican declares Society of St. Pius X in schism, excommunicates ... The Vatican has responded aggressively to a traditionalist society that consecrated bishops without the pope’s consent VATICAN CITY --The Vatican responded aggressively Thursday to a traditionalist society that consecrated bishops without the pope’s consent, declaring theSociety of St. Pius Xin schism, excommunicating its bishops and priests and warning its faithful they too face the harshest sanctions in the Catholic Church. The Vatican’s doctrine office went above and beyond the minimum sanctions foreseen by the church’s canon law to respond tothe consecrations Wednesdayof four new bishops at the society’s Econe, Switzerland, seminary. The society, known by its acronym SSPX, celebrates the ancient Latin Mass and opposes the modernizing reforms of the Catholic Church, which it considers to be rife with heresies and errors. During a ritual-filled, five-hour Mass on Wednesday, attended by some 15,500 people and their children, the SSPX consecrated four new bishops in direct defiance ofPope Leo XIV, who had urged the SSPX to hold off for the sake of the church's unity. In a decree, the Vatican excommunicated t…

What to know about the breakaway traditionalist Catholics defying Pope Leo XIV - ABC News The ultratraditionalist Society of St. Pius X is defying Pope Leo XIV by consecrating four bishops without his consent ECONE, Switzerland --The ultratraditionalistSociety of St. Pius Xis defying Pope Leo XIV by consecrating four bishops without his consent at its seminary in Econe, Switzerland. The move incurs an automatic excommunication for the bishops involved, and amounts to a “schismatic act” — or a willful rupture of unity in the Catholic Church. The ancient Latin Mass and ceremony, being celebrated Wednesday before thousands of faithful, marks the first major crisis for Leo. The American pope hasprioritized church unityand healing tensions with traditionalists that worsened during the Pope Francis pontificate. The society, known by its acronym SSPX, was founded in opposition to the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Among other things, the 1960s church meetings revolutionized the Catholic Church’s relations with other Christians, Jews and people of other faiths, and allowed Mass to be celebrated in the vernacular rather than Latin. In 1975, the SSPX founder, Archbis…

Vatican issues ultimatum to breakaway group on the brink of schism | The Independent The Vatican has warned a breakaway traditionalist Catholic group that it risks going into schism if it goes ahead with plans to consecrate new bishops without papal consent. Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, head of the Vatican ’s doctrine office, issued the warning during a meeting Thursday with the superior general of the Society of St. Pius X, the Rev. Davide Pagliarani, the Vatican said. The meeting was scheduled after the Swiss -based society, which celebrates the traditional Latin Mass but isn't in communion with Rome , announced plans to consecrate new bishops July 1 without papal consent. Fernández offered a new round of theological talks to regularize the SSPX's status, but only if it calls off the planned ceremony. The SSPX has been a thorn in the side of the Holy See for four decades, founded in opposition to the modernizing reforms of the 1960s Second Vatican Council, which among other things allowed Mass to be celebrated in the vernacular. open image in gallery The consecration of bishops without papal consent is considered a grave threat to church unity and a cause of schism ( AP ) T…

Pope pleads with breakaway Catholics before possible schism Pope Leo XIV has called on a rebel Catholic group to call off a planned consecration of bishops. Such a move could trigger a full schism with the mainstream Catholic Church.

Defying Pope Leo XIV and risking schism, traditionalists go ahead with Latin Mass consecrations Catholic bishops during a consecration in Econe, Switzerland on Wednesday. Fabrice Coffrini / AFP via Getty Images Share Add NBC News to Google July 1, 2026, 7:25 AM EDT / Source : The Associated Press By The Associated Press ECONE, Switzerland — A breakaway group of traditionalist Catholics directly defied Pope Leo XIV by consecrating four bishops without his consent Wednesday, dismissing the resulting excommunications and schism by declaring it was a “sacred duty” to defend the Catholic faith. Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscription Get exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading. The Society of St. Pius X, which opposes the modernizing reforms of the Catholic Church, went ahead with the consecrations at its seminary in Econe, Switzerland, despite a last-ditch appeal by Leo to call it off. The American pope warned that consecrating bishops without his approval amounts to a “sin of extreme gravity” that will actually harm their faithful. And yet bells tolled through the mountain valley as hundreds of priests processed to the altar under a tent at the start of the solemn …

Vatican excommunicates schismatic bishops and priests, and warns their followers The Vatican responded aggressively to a traditionalist group that openly defied the pope Vatican excommunicates schismatic bishops and priests, and warns their followers The Vatican responded aggressively to a traditionalist group that openly defied the pope The Vatican has responded aggressively to the consecration of four bishops of the Society of Saint Pius 10. This is an ultra traditionalist Catholic group. It was formed in 1970 in opposition to the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council. These priests celebrate the ancient Latin Mass, and they're very traditional in their approach to the Catholic faith. Wednesday in Switzerland, they consecrated these four bishops without *** papal mandate in direct defiance of Pope Leo the 14th. The Vatican today has responded with some of the harshest sanctions in the Catholic Church, excommunication for those bishops who participated in the ceremony, *** declaration of schism, and that all the priests of the society are schismatics and therefore also subject to excommunication, and it warned ordinary faithful that if you go to these SSPX masses, you …

Pope Leo begs breakaway traditionalist group to back off bishop ... Pope Leo XIV holds his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at The Vatican, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday begged a breakaway group oftraditionalist Catholicsto call off its plan to consecrate new bishops without his consent, calling the move a schismatic act and a “sin of extreme gravity.” “I plead with you and ask you with all my heart: please turn back!” Leo wrote in a letter to the Rev. Davide Pagliarani, the superior of the Society of St. Pius X. Leo issued the last-ditch appeal a day before the society plans to consecrate four new bishops at its seminary in Econe, Switzerland. Under church law, the consecrations constitute a schismatic act, or an intentional rupture of the unity of the Catholic Church, and incur automatic excommunication for the four bishops and the bishop administering the consecration. In response to the pope’s letter, Marc-André Mabillard, media manager for the society, expressed “great sadness to not be understood by our leader,” and added: “We are changing absolutely nothing in our plans.” Asked by phone about …

Breakaway Catholic group excommunicated after defying Pope Leo WORLD Roman Catholicism Add Topic Members of rebel Catholic group excommunicated, Vatican says The ultra-traditionalist Society ​of St. Pius X, which denies key Church teachings, is in schism with the wider Church, the Vatican decree said. Joshua McElwee Reuters July 2, 2026, 9:12 a.m. ET Hear this story VATICAN CITY – The Vatican said on July 2 that priests and lay Catholics who are part of a breakaway right-wing Catholic group that ordained bishops without Pope Leo's approval were in schism with the wider Church and now excommunicated. In a strong decree, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the top watchdog authority for the 1.4-billion-member Church, also warned Catholics globally that the Swiss-based Society ​of St. Pius X now celebrated the sacraments illicitly. The ultra-traditionalist group, which denies key Church teachings, cannot officiate marriages or hear confessions validly, the decree said. It is a strict teaching of the Church that only the pope can authorize the consecration of new ⁠bishops, in ​order to maintain the Church's ties to Jesus' 12 ​apostles, who are considered the first priests and…

These traditionalist Catholics are defying Pope Leo XIV, and embracing ... Vatican Vatican News Pope Leo XIV talks to journalists as he leaves his residence in Castel Gandolfo, on the outskirts of Rome, to return to the Vatican June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Nicole Winfield View Author Profile Associated Press View Author Profile Join the Conversation Send your thoughts to Letters to the Editor . Learn more Vatican City — June 24, 2026 Share on Bluesky Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email to a friend Print A breakaway group of traditionalist Catholics will challenge Pope Leo XIV's authority next week by consecrating four bishops without his consent. Rather than shying away from the confrontation, the Society of St. Pius X seems intent on embracing its notoriety. The group, which celebrates the traditional Latin Mass and rejects the modernizing reforms of the Catholic Church, is planning a highly organized, four-day, livestreamed extravaganza for the consecrations at its Swiss seminary — complete with a souvenir wine set offered to those attending. The July 1 event, nearly four decades after the group first became a thorn in the Vatican's side, suggests it is leanin…

Vatican excommunicates six ultraconservative bishops - RTÉ Updated / Thursday, 2 Jul 2026 11:34 Getty Four new bishops were ordained during a ceremony in Econe, Switzerland The Vatican has excommunicated six bishops from the ultraconservative Society of St Pius X and said any lay believers who "formally adhere" to the group would suffer the same fate. The Vatican decree comes a day after the traditionalist breakaway group consecrated four new bishops, defying a call from Pope Leo XIV not to do so. The decree called the ceremony "an act of schismatic nature". Only the pope may authorise the consecration of new bishops, so as to maintain the Church's ties to the 12 apostles, who are regarded as the first priests and bishops. The Vatican had ‌warned the ordination, which was broadcast on social media, would incur excommunication. The excommunication covers the newly-ordained bishops and the two existing bishops who presided over the ceremony in Econe in southwest Switzerland. The rite was attended by thousands of worshippers from around the world. The Society of Saint Pius X was founded in 1970 The society's Superior General Davide Pagliarani called it a "historic…

Pope Leo faces first major crisis of papacy from rebel Catholic group - CNN Pope Leo leads the Angelus prayer from a window of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican on Sunday. Matteo Pernaselci/Vatican Media/Reuters The Pope See all topics Facebook Tweet Email Link Threads Link Copied! Follow Rome — Pope Leo XIV has made a last-ditch appeal to a rebel group of traditionalist Catholics who plan to ordain bishops without his approval, saying they will be committing a “sin of extreme gravity” if they proceed. Just over a year into his tenure, Leo is facing the first major challenge of his papacy from the Society of Saint Pius X, a group that rejects reforms made by the Catholic Church in recent decades – including allowing Mass to be celebrated in languages other than Latin – and is expected to ordain four bishops on Wednesday at its seminary in Écône, Switzerland. The ordinations, the pope told them, would be a “schismatic” act. If they go ahead, the new bishops will be excommunicated, or officially excluded from the sacraments of the church. “I plead with you and ask you with all my heart: please turn back!” the pope wrote in an 11th hour letter to the society, known as the SSPX. “I …

Pope begs breakaway traditionalist group to back off plan to consecrate ... Pope Leo XIV leads a mass at St Peter's basilica in The Vatican on Monday. Alberto Pizzoli / AFP via Getty Images Share Add NBC News to Google June 30, 2026, 9:08 AM EDT / Source : The Associated Press By The Associated Press ROME — Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday begged a breakaway group of traditionalist Catholics to call off its plan to consecrate new bishops without his consent, calling the move a schismatic act and a “sin of extreme gravity.” Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscription Get exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading. “I plead with you and ask you with all my heart: please turn back!” Leo wrote in a letter to the Rev. Davide Pagliarani, the superior of the Society of St. Pius X. Leo issued the letter a day before the society planned to consecrate four new bishops at its seminary in Econe, Switzerland. Under church law, the consecrations constitute a schismatic act and incur automatic excommunication for the four bishops and the bishop administering the consecration. Add NBC News to Google Pope Leo blesses world’s tallest church 01:06 The society, known as the SSPX, was founded in op…

Defying Pope Leo XIV, traditionalists go ahead with bishop consecrations in Switzerland The Society of St. Pius X, which opposes modernizing reforms in the Catholic Church, went ahead with a ritual-filled ceremony at its seminary in Econe, Switzerland, despite a last-ditch appeal by Leo to call it off. (AP video: Jamey Keaten) Newly consecrated Bishops, from left, Pascal Schreiber, Michael Goldade, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry and Marc Hanappier, wearing their miters and holding their pastoral staffs, pray at the end of their consecration ceremony in a tent set up outside the Society of St. Pius X seminary in Econe, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner) Father Pascal Schreiber is consecrated as bishop during a ceremony in a tent set up outside the Society of St. Pius X seminary in Econe, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner) Four bishops lie on the floor as they are given episcopal consecration during a Mass in a tent set up outside the Society of St. Pius X seminary, in Econe, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (Cyril Zingaro/Keystone via AP) Nuns make their way to a tent set up outside the Society of St. Pius X seminary to attend a…

Pope begs breakaway traditionalist group to back off bishop ... Pope Leo XIV is begging a breakaway group of traditionalist Catholics to call off its planned consecrations of new bishops without his consent ROME --Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday begged a breakaway group oftraditionalist Catholicsto call off its plan to consecrate new bishops without his consent, calling the move a schismatic act and a “sin of extreme gravity.” “I plead with you and ask you with all my heart: please turn back!” Leo wrote in a letter to the Rev. Davide Pagliarani, the superior of the Society of St. Pius X. Leo issued the last-ditch appeal a day before the society plans to consecrate four new bishops at its seminary in Econe, Switzerland. Under church law, the consecrations constitute a schismatic act, or an intentional rupture of the unity of the Catholic Church, and incur automatic excommunication for the four bishops and the bishop administering the consecration. In response to the pope’s letter, Marc-André Mabillard, media manager for the society, expressed “great sadness to not be understood by our leader,” and added: “We are changing absolutely nothing in our plans.” Asked by phone about the prosp…