The Society of St Pius X (SSPX), a traditionalist Catholic group, has announced plans to consecrate new bishops on 1 July without papal approval, posing the first major crisis for Pope Leo XIV. The Swiss-based organisation, which operates schools and chapels globally, stated it was compelled to proceed to safeguard its future, citing a lack of adequate response from the Vatican to its requests.
The SSPX has been at odds with the Holy See since its opposition to the modernising reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. In 1988, its founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, consecrated four bishops without papal consent, leading to excommunication. The group currently holds no legal status within the Catholic Church, yet has attracted followers devoted to the pre-Vatican II traditional Latin Mass.
Under church law, consecrating bishops without papal approval incurs automatic excommunication for both the consecrator and the purported new bishop, as it threatens church unity and apostolic succession. The Vatican has previously sought reconciliation, with Pope Benedict XVI lifting excommunications in 2009, although tensions rose after SSPX Bishop Richard Williamson denied the Holocaust. Pope Francis later restricted the old Latin Mass, a move Pope Leo XIV has sought to soften through dialogue.
Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni confirmed on Tuesday that contacts with the SSPX continue, aiming to avoid unilateral solutions. The SSPX superior general, Rev Davide Pagliarani, wrote to Pope Leo explaining the necessity of new bishops to ensure the continuation of ministry for traditionalist faithful. The group stated it received a Vatican reply that did not respond to its requests.
