The Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) proceeded with the consecration of four bishops on Wednesday in Econe, Switzerland, directly defying Pope Leo XIV's warning that the act would be schismatic. The ceremony, held in a field near the society's seminary, drew an estimated 15,000 attendees and lasted approximately four hours, with mass celebrated in Latin.
Defiance of Papal Authority
On Monday, Pope Leo XIV issued a letter to the SSPX pleading with them to abandon the consecrations, calling it a "schismatic act" and warning that tearing "the seamless garment of Christ is a sin of extreme gravity." Despite this, the society went ahead, appointing two French bishops, one American, and one Swiss. The ceremony occurred at the same location where SSPX founder Marcel Lefebvre controversially consecrated four bishops in 1988, a move that had also triggered a rift with the Vatican.
Jean-Pierre Stauffer, a 79-year-old worshipper from Geneva, told AFP: "It is a historic day. Something very important is happening now; it won't stop here." He was among the crowd that braved rain to witness the event, which began with a long procession of priests at 8:30 am local time.
SSPX's Stance and Justification
Father Michel Rion, a theology professor at the seminary, defended the consecrations, stating: "It is not an act of rebellion, it is an act born of love for the Church." He denied any schismatic intent, saying, "There is absolutely nothing schismatic or anti-Church in our actions. We hope that one day the pope will see that. For us, being schismatic is the worst thing that could happen, we would rather die than be schismatic."
The SSPX, founded in 1970 by Lefebvre, consists of fundamentalist Catholics who oppose the liberal reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. The society claims a presence in over 75 countries across six continents, with more than 750 priests and approximately 600,000 followers worldwide. It adheres to a strict interpretation of Roman Catholic tradition, holding masses in Latin with priests facing away from the congregation.
Rion explained the society's view on the Church's adaptation: "The Church constantly seeks to adapt — to adapt its message to lead souls to heaven" but has "adapted too much to the world."
Consequences and Historical Context
From the Vatican's perspective, consecrating bishops without papal approval is a direct act of insubordination, resulting in automatic excommunication for both the consecrators and the newly consecrated bishops. The SSPX's superior general, Father Davide Pagliarani, reiterated in a statement Tuesday that the group would proceed, insisting it was "neither schismatic nor hostile to the Church."
In 1988, Pope John Paul II similarly failed to prevent the SSPX from ordaining bishops, who were excommunicated but later had the sanction lifted in 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI. Pope Francis had recognized the validity of confessions and marriages performed by SSPX priests starting in 2015.
Andre, a 46-year-old Gabonese worshipper from Versailles, told AFP: "This is a historic moment. In a few years, we will almost certainly be told that the choice we made was the right one." The SSPX argues that consecrating new bishops is necessary, as it currently has only two bishops left. Despite its influence in conservative circles, the society remains a small group compared to the Roman Catholic Church's roughly 1.3 billion faithful.
