Pope Leo XIV Excommunicates Conservative Bishops Over Unsanctioned Consecrations
The Vatican has proclaimed the conservative Society of St Pius X (SSPX) to be in schism after it consecrated four bishops without Pope Leo XIV’s sanction.
This act exacerbates one of the Catholic Church’s long-standing internal conflicts.
In a decree issued on July 2 by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican declared the automatic excommunication of all bishops who participated in the consecration ceremony at the SSPX seminary in Econe, Switzerland.
The judgment said that Bishops Alfonso de Galarreta and Bernard Fellay, who presided over the event, had been excommunicated latae sententiae under Canon Law.
VATICAN CITY–SSPX EXCOMMUNICATED, INCLUDING LAY FAITHFUL attending their “chapels”.
The Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith issued the following statement, this morning:
“Despite the warnings issued to the Superior General of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X, the… pic.twitter.com/Uft2I8AWtg— Bree A Dail (@breeadail) July 2, 2026
This is together with newly consecrated Bishops Pascal Schreiber, Michael Goldade, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry and Marc Hanappier.
A schism is a formal division or split within a group, organisation, or movement, typically caused by a deep disagreement over ideas or beliefs.
According to the Vatican, the excommunications can only be lifted by the pope.
The SSPX carried out the consecrations despite repeated warnings from the Holy See and a final personal appeal from Pope Leo XIV, urging the group to reconsider the move for the sake of church unity.
“In this spirit, and filled with Christian affection, I plead with you and ask you with all my heart: Please turn back,” Pope Leo XIV wrote in his letter to the society before the ceremony.
The Vatican had earlier warned on May 13 that proceeding with the consecrations without papal approval would constitute a schismatic act resulting in automatic excommunication for all bishops involved.
The ceremony nevertheless proceeded on Wednesday before thousands of followers, deepening the decades-long rift between the traditionalist movement and Rome.
SSPX proceeded with the schismatic, unauthorized consecration of 4 bishops in Swiss mountain area of Écône, with hundreds of faithul present.
The consecrated bishops are:
Father Pascal Schreiber (Switzerland)
Father Michael Goldade (USA)
Father Michel Poinsinet de Sivry… pic.twitter.com/n89LqPb1Qo— Paulina Guzik (@Guzik_Paulina) July 1, 2026
🇨🇭#Switzerland – The Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) proceeded Tuesday with the episcopal consecration of four priests at its seminary in Écône, Switzerland, defying an explicit appeal from Pope Leo XIV and Vatican warnings that the move constituted a schismatic act and would… pic.twitter.com/wWVLWwZBrq— White Wolf (@whitewolf_pub) July 1, 2026
Founded in 1970 by French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, the SSPX rejects several teachings and reforms introduced during the Second Vatican Council.
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These include positions on religious freedom, interfaith relations and the use of vernacular languages during Mass.
In addition to excommunicating the bishops, the Vatican declared SSPX priests schismatic and invalidated certain sacraments administered by them, including confession and marriage.
The latest sanctions reverse years of Vatican outreach aimed at reconciling the group with Rome, including efforts by Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope Benedict XVI lifted the earlier excommunication in 2009 in an attempt to reopen dialogue.
Further, the SSPX had previously faced similar sanctions in 1988 after Archbishop Lefebvre consecrated bishops without papal approval.
This prompted the Vatican at the time to declare the act schismatic and automatically excommunicate those involved.
Pope Leo XIV Excommunicates Conservative Bishops Over Unsanctioned Consecrations
