VATICAN CITY (AP) – The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), a breakaway group of traditionalist Catholics, is poised to directly challenge Pope Leo XIV by consecrating four bishops without his approval. This significant ceremony is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at the SSPX seminary in Econe, Switzerland. The event is anticipated to attract thousands of attendees who prefer the traditional Latin Mass as opposed to the contemporary liturgies utilized in most of the Catholic Church.
Despite Pope Leo's urgent appeal to reconsider the consecrations, the SSPX is proceeding with its plans. In a letter released the day before the ceremony, Pope Leo characterized the act of consecrating bishops without papal consent as a “sin of extreme gravity,” cautioning that such actions would ultimately harm their followers. According to church law, the act of performing a bishop's consecration without a papal mandate results in automatic excommunication for the newly consecrated bishops and for the bishop who performs the rite. Furthermore, this act is considered schismatic, marking a deliberate fracture in the unity of the Catholic Church.
Despite the looming threats of schism and excommunication, preparations for the ceremony have been festive. The SSPX’s website featured a countdown clock leading up to the event, and video clips showcased seminarians energetically unpacking supplies. To commemorate the occasion, registered participants can purchase a souvenir wine set named the “Cuvee des Sacres,” which is priced at 75 Swiss francs ($92.50) and includes bottles of wine labeled with bishop-themed graphics.
The SSPX remains undeterred by the potential penalties, asserting that it is the sole defender of church tradition and the Catholic faith. “We don’t fear it. It pains us immensely, but we believe that the good we seek is greater than the pain that will be inflicted upon us,” stated Marc-André Mabillard, the media manager for the society. In his response to Pope Leo’s letter, the SSPX superior, Rev. Davide Pagliarani, urged the pope to delay any declaration of penalties.
This consecration event marks the 38th anniversary of a similar incident when the Vatican condemned the prior consecrations of SSPX bishops as schismatic, which also resulted in automatic excommunication. The SSPX was founded by French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in opposition to the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council, which, among other changes, allowed Mass to be celebrated in vernacular languages rather than exclusively in Latin.
Today, the SSPX continues to celebrate the ancient Latin Mass and has accused the modern church of being plagued by heresies and errors, including modernism, liberalism, and ecumenism. The society has argued that the pending consecrations are justified by a “state of necessity,” claiming they require more bishops to serve a faith community spread across 800 congregations in 77 countries, of which only two of the original four bishops remain alive.
The SSPX contends that the consecration does not represent a rejection of Pope Leo’s authority but is purely a matter of practical necessity to ensure that their faithful have access to ordinations and confirmations in accordance with traditional rites. The new bishops designated for consecration are Pascal Schreiber from Switzerland, Michael Goldade from the United States, and Michel Poinsinet de Sivry and Marc Hanappier from France.
In a statement, Mabillard expressed disappointment at not being understood by the pope, affirming their determination to forge ahead with their plans unchanged.
