The Vatican declared the Society of St. Pius X in schism and excommunicated bishops who defied Pope Leo XIV by ordaining new bishops without his approval. This decision comes after decades of efforts by successive popes to reconcile with the traditionalist movement, which rejects many of the reforms adopted during the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s.

Background

The Society of St. Pius X was founded in 1970 by French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and has long opposed what it considers theological errors introduced by the Second Vatican Council. The group has continued to grow, reporting hundreds of priests, seminarians, and religious members serving followers in dozens of countries.

Pope Leo XIV made a rare personal appeal to the group’s leader, the Rev. Davide Pagliarani, urging him to cancel the consecrations. Despite this, the group proceeded with the ordinations, which the Vatican considers a schismatic act.

The sanctions also reverse concessions the Vatican had granted the SSPX in recent years as it tried to bring the group back into full communion with Rome. The group can no longer validly administer the sacraments of confession and marriage, and the Vatican urged Catholics attending SSPX Masses to separate themselves from the movement.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.