Econe, Switzerland

Ultratraditionalists are rebelling against Pope Leo, triggering a rupture with the Vatican. Newly consecrated bishops are gathered at the Society of St. Pius X seminary in Econe, Switzerland.

The Vatican declared the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) in schism and excommunicated its bishops and priests after they consecrated bishops without papal approval. The decree warns SSPX faithful that attending their Masses could result in excommunication, reversing prior concessions to the traditionalist group.

Traditionalist Catholics consecrated four bishops without Pope Leo XIV's approval in Switzerland, defying excommunications and asserting the necessity to defend the Catholic faith. The act, deemed a schismatic rupture by the Church, occurred at the Society of St. Pius X's seminary in Econe, with hundreds attending the traditional Latin Mass ceremony.

Pope Leo XIV urged the Society of St. Pius X to abandon its plan to consecrate four bishops without papal approval, calling the act schismatic and a 'sin of extreme gravity.' The Vatican warned that proceeding would result in automatic excommunication for those involved.

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.