Pope Leo XIV has issued an urgent appeal to a breakaway traditionalist Catholic group, urging it to abandon plans to consecrate new bishops without Vatican approval, warning the move would constitute a serious schismatic act within the Church.
In a letter addressed to Rev. Davide Pagliarani, leader of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), the pope made a heartfelt plea for unity, calling on the group to reconsider its decision ahead of the planned ceremony in Econe, Switzerland.
“I plead with you and ask you with all my heart: please turn back,” the pope wrote, emphasizing the spiritual consequences of proceeding without papal consent.
The SSPX is set to consecrate four new bishops, a move that violates Catholic Church law and would automatically trigger excommunication for both the newly consecrated bishops and the officiating bishop. Despite the warning, the group has indicated it will not change course.
Marc-André Mabillard, a spokesperson for the society, expressed disappointment over the Vatican’s stance, stating that while the group does not welcome excommunication, it believes its actions serve a greater good.
The situation marks the first major crisis for Pope Leo XIV since the start of his papacy, as he has prioritized restoring unity within the Church, particularly among traditionalist factions that favor the Latin Mass.
The Society of St. Pius X was founded in opposition to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, which modernized many aspects of the Catholic Church, including allowing Mass to be conducted in local languages instead of Latin and improving relations with other religions.
SSPX members maintain that they are preserving what they view as the authentic teachings of the Church, often criticizing modern reforms as doctrinal errors. The group has justified its planned consecrations by citing a “state of necessity” to serve its followers.
This is not the first such conflict. In 1988, the group’s founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, consecrated bishops without papal approval, leading to excommunications that were later lifted by the Vatican in 2009 as part of reconciliation efforts. However, the SSPX still lacks official recognition within the Catholic Church.
Pope Leo XIV warned that proceeding with the consecrations could harm the spiritual welfare of the faithful, potentially affecting their access to valid sacraments and deepening divisions within the global Church.
Despite longstanding tensions, the SSPX has continued to expand globally, with hundreds of priests, seminarians, and religious members across dozens of countries, positioning itself as a parallel traditionalist movement within Catholicism.
The Vatican has reiterated its willingness to engage in dialogue, but the standoff underscores the deep ideological divide between Church leadership and traditionalist groups resistant to modern reforms.
