Pope Leo XIV has decried the ordination of four bishops by the traditionalist Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), characterizing the act as a direct challenge to the Catholic Church and warning of a potential schism.
The ordinations took place in Écône, Switzerland, organized by the SSPX, a group founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in 1970. The society has historically maintained a stance that seeks to preserve a distinct medieval mystique, positioning priests, bishops, and the Mass as closer to God and separate from ordinary people.
This defiance extends to multiple Vatican policies aimed at making the Church more accessible and egalitarian. The SSPX has previously opposed Vatican directives on establishing ties with other religions, recognizing religious freedom, and engaging in social and political discourse. Their objection to priests facing the congregation during Mass, preferring the traditional eastward orientation toward the altar, is another point of contention.
Davide Pagliarani, the Superior General of the SSPX, stated during the ceremony that the ordinations were performed out of love for the Pope as the Vicar of Christ, asserting that they did not wish to see the Pope further humiliated by what he termed "false shepherds representing false religions." These ordinations present a significant challenge to Pope Leo XIV, who is relatively new in his papacy.
Despite the SSPX's estimated 600,000 followers worldwide, a small fraction compared to the Catholic Church's over 1.4 billion members, the group maintains a presence in dozens of countries, including the United States, with a notable following in Kansas. The scale of the event, which included a livestream in seven languages and merchandise such as commemorative wine bottles, suggests the society possesses considerable financial resources.
While Pope Leo XIV has declared the newly ordained bishops illegitimate and the ordinations an attack on the Church, he may be hesitant to take further action that could exacerbate the feared schism. The society's continued defiance and its organized events highlight ongoing tensions within the global Catholic community.