The Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) has consecrated four new bishops despite a direct appeal from Pope Leo XIV asking the society to cancel the ceremony.
According to The New York Times, the consecrations took place Wednesday in Écône, Switzerland, marking one of the most significant challenges of Pope Leo’s young pontificate and deepening a decades-long division between the Holy See and the traditionalist society.
Before the ceremony, Pope Leo urged the SSPX to abandon the consecrations, warning that proceeding without papal approval would be “a sin of extreme gravity.” Vatican officials also warned beforehand that those involved could face automatic excommunication.
According to LifeSiteNews, the SSPX says the consecrations were necessary because its existing bishops are aging and its worldwide apostolate continues to grow. The society maintains that it recognizes the authority of the Roman Pontiff and does not consider its actions a formal schismatic act.
The dispute traces its roots to 1988, when Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre consecrated bishops without papal approval. Those excommunications were lifted in 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI as part of efforts toward reconciliation, although the SSPX has never been fully regularized within the Church.
Approximately 17,000 faithful reportedly attended the ceremony in Switzerland, highlighting the society’s international presence. The SSPX states that it now serves Catholics in 77 countries through hundreds of priests, religious, seminarians, and apostolates.
The Vatican had not immediately announced the canonical status of those involved following the consecrations.
Whether this latest development leads to a lasting rupture or renewed dialogue remains uncertain, as the Holy See continues seeking unity while addressing longstanding divisions within the Church.
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