Pope Leo XIV is facing the first major challenge of his papacy from the Society of Saint Pius X, a traditionalist Catholic group that rejects recent church reforms. The group, which has a presence in the United States, plans to ordain four bishops without the pope’s approval, an act that the pope has warned would be a “schismatic” move and result in excommunication.

Background

The Society of Saint Pius X was founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who opposed the reforms introduced by the Second Vatican Council. The group has around 700 priests and 600,000 followers worldwide, but its decision to ordain bishops without papal approval has been condemned by the Catholic Church.

The pope has made a last-ditch appeal to the group, urging them not to proceed with the ordinations. He warned that the move would be a “sin of extreme gravity” and would damage the unity of the church. Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, a close ally of the pope, has also spoken out against the group’s plans, saying that they would create a “parallel structure” within the church.

Implications

The crisis has significant implications for the Catholic Church, which has been seeking to reconcile with the Society of Saint Pius X in recent years. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI lifted the excommunications of four bishops who were ordained by the group in 1988, but the current crisis has raised concerns about the group’s commitment to unity with the church.

The situation is being closely watched by Catholics around the world, who are concerned about the potential consequences of the group’s actions. The pope’s appeal to the group has been seen as a significant move, and it remains to be seen whether the group will heed his warning and abandon its plans to ordain bishops without his approval.

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