An ultra-traditionalist Catholic movement, the Society of Saint Pius X, has consecrated four new bishops in Econe, Switzerland, despite Pope Leo XIV’s appeal to halt what he condemned as a “schismatic act.”
At Wednesday’s ceremony, attended by thousands of worshippers, the society’s two remaining bishops ordained four priests: Frenchmen Michel Poinsinet de Sivry and Marc Hanappier, American Michael Goldade, and Swiss Pascal Schreiber.
Superior General Davide Pagliarani hailed the event as “historic,” insisting the group remains faithful to the Church through its strict adherence to tradition.
By proceeding without papal approval, all six bishops are automatically excommunicated under canon law. Yet the society’s secretary general, Foucault Leroux, declared that “all penalties and censures… are null and void.”
Founded in 1970 by French bishop Marcel Lefebvre, the group has long rejected the liberal reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Its last major rupture with Rome came in 1988, when Lefebvre consecrated bishops without Vatican consent.
The five-hour Latin mass in Econe featured traditional rites, including the laying on of hands and anointing. Worshippers described the moment as deeply moving, with many in tears as the new bishops blessed the faithful.
The Vatican responded with sorrow. Pope Leo XIV urged the group to “turn back,” warning that tearing the unity of the Church is a “sin of extreme gravity.”
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, said the ordinations “deeply wound the unity of the Church” but expressed hope for reconciliation.
The society, which claims 600,000 followers across 75 countries, defended the consecrations as necessary for survival, noting its aging leadership. “Now we have six bishops and the two old bishops can rest,” said US priest Paul Robinson.
Despite the automatic excommunication, the group insists it is not schismatic. Father Michel Rion, a theology professor at the Econe seminary, told AFP: “For us, being schismatic is the worst thing that could happen. We would rather die than be schismatic.”
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