A traditionalist Catholic group has gone ahead with the consecration of four new bishops without the approval of Pope Leo XIV, deepening tensions with the Vatican and triggering automatic excommunication under Church law.
The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), known for rejecting several reforms introduced by the Second Vatican Council, carried out the ceremony on Wednesday at its seminary in Ecône, Switzerland, despite a direct appeal from the Pope to halt the event.
In a letter issued before the ceremony, Pope Leo XIV described the unauthorized consecrations as a grave offence that would ultimately harm the faithful. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin also said the action constituted a schismatic act that carries the penalty of excommunication.
The development presents a significant challenge for Pope Leo XIV, who has repeatedly emphasized the importance of unity within the Catholic Church and has sought to improve relations with traditionalist groups.
The Society of St. Pius X has long operated outside the Vatican’s official structures while maintaining a global presence. The organization currently has six bishops, hundreds of priests, seminarians and religious members serving in different countries.
Thousands of worshippers gathered at the seminary for the five-hour ceremony, where traditional Latin Mass was celebrated with elaborate liturgical rites, including chanting, incense and ceremonial vestments. The event attracted an estimated 16,500 attendees despite heavy rainfall and was broadcast live online in multiple languages.
At the start of the ceremony, a representative of the society defended the decision, describing the consecrations as a necessary duty to preserve the Catholic faith. The group also dismissed any penalties arising from the action, insisting they would have no validity.
During the rite, Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta, who was himself consecrated without papal approval in 1988, laid hands on each of the four new bishops, completing the traditional episcopal ordination ceremony.
According to Catholic canon law, appointing bishops without papal authorization results in automatic excommunication for both the bishops being consecrated and the bishop performing the ceremony. The Vatican also considers such actions a break in Church unity.
The Society of St. Pius X was founded by French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in opposition to the reforms introduced during the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. Those reforms promoted greater engagement with other religions and allowed Mass to be celebrated in local languages instead of exclusively in Latin.
A similar dispute occurred in 1988 when Lefebvre consecrated four bishops without papal approval. Although the excommunications imposed at the time were lifted by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009, the society has never regained official canonical status within the Catholic Church.
The newly consecrated bishops are Pascal Schreiber of Switzerland, Michael Goldade of the United States, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry of France and Marc Hanappier of France.
During his homily, SSPX Superior Rev. Davide Pagliarani defended the consecrations, saying they were necessary for the salvation of souls and insisting the society remained loyal to the Pope despite the disagreement.
While ordinary Catholics are not prohibited from attending SSPX Masses, the Vatican continues to recognize only priests and bishops who remain in full communion with the Holy See.
The Vatican had not issued an official response following the ceremony, leaving uncertainty over whether any further disciplinary measures will be announced.
The event was marked by a festive atmosphere, with pilgrims, clergy and supporters from different countries celebrating what the society described as a historic occasion. However, many Catholics, including conservative members of the Church, criticized the consecrations as a serious act of disobedience that risks further dividing the Catholic community.
