Pope begs breakaway traditionalist group to back off plan to consecrate its own bishops

Pope Leo XIV urged the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) to abandon its plan to consecrate bishops without papal approval, calling the act schismatic and a 'sin of extreme gravity.' The SSPX, opposing Vatican II reforms, previously faced excommunication in 1988 for a similar action and risks renewed excommunication if the planned consecrations proceed.