VATICAN CITY (AP) - Amid the potential for schism and excommunication, a breakaway group of traditionalist Catholics is set to defy Pope Leo XIV directly by consecrating four bishops without his consent. The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) has scheduled a significant ceremony on Wednesday at its seminary in Écône, Switzerland, located in the southwest of the country. The event is expected to attract thousands of attendees who favor the traditional Latin Mass over the more modern liturgies typically celebrated in the Roman Catholic Church.
The SSPX's decision to proceed with these consecrations comes despite a final appeal from Pope Leo, warning that such actions are considered a "sin of extreme gravity" and could cause harm to their followers. According to church law, consecrating a bishop without papal approval brings about automatic excommunication for the newly ordained bishops as well as for the bishop who conducts the rite. This act is also viewed as schismatic, indicating a significant division within the Catholic Church.
Despite the gravity of the situation, the upcoming ceremony is being treated as a jubilant occasion. The SSPX website features a countdown clock, video clips show seminarians happily preparing, and registered participants can even buy commemorative items, including a souvenir set of wine dubbed "Cuvee des Sacres." This gift box, priced at 75 Swiss francs (approximately $92.50), includes various wines with bishop-themed labels, further enhancing the celebratory tone surrounding the consecration.
For the SSPX, the looming threats of schism and excommunication carry little weight. The society asserts that it is the true guardian of Catholic traditions and beliefs. Marc-André Mabillard, the SSPX media manager, expressed that while the punishment will cause immense pain, they believe the benefits of their actions outweigh these consequences. In a response to Pope Leo's letter, SSPX superior Rev. Davide Pagliarani urged the Pope to pause before issuing any penalties.
The upcoming ceremony marks the 38th anniversary of a similar event that the Vatican deemed a "schismatic act," resulting in the automatic excommunication of those involved. The SSPX was established by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre as a reaction against the reforms introduced during the Second Vatican Council, which occurred in the 1960s and included significant changes in the Church's interactions with other faiths and allowed the use of vernacular languages in Mass.
As the SSPX continues to celebrate the ancient Latin Mass, it accuses the modern Church of embracing heresies such as modernism and ecumenism. The group argues that the impending consecrations are necessary to meet the needs of its community, which has grown to 800 places of worship across 77 countries. They maintain that this action does not reject Pope Leo's authority but is required to ordain new priests and conduct sacramental rites according to their traditions.
The new bishops being consecrated include Pascal Schreiber from Switzerland, Michael Goldade from the United States, and two from France: Michel Poinsinet de Sivry and Marc Hanappier. Following the Pope's warnings, Mabillard conveyed disappointment over the lack of understanding from their leader, stating that their plans remain unchanged.
