AMP Article

What to know about the Society of St. Pius X, the schismatic group excommunicated by the Pope

Published July 3, 2026 · Updated July 3, 2026 · By Charles Taylor

Newly consecrated Bishops, starting second from left, Pascal Schreiber, Michael Goldade, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry and Marc Hanappier, wearing their miters and holding their pastoral staffs, pray at the end of their consecration ceremony in a tent set up outside the Society of St. Pius X seminary in Econe, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)

What to Know About the Society of St. Pius X, the Schismatic Group Excommunicated by the Pope

What to know about the Society - In a dramatic display of defiance, the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) held a ceremony in the Swiss village of Écône, where four new bishops were ordained without the Pope’s approval. The event, marked by elaborate rituals and solemn declarations, took place at the society’s seminary, with participants asserting that the act was their "sacred duty" to uphold traditional Catholic practices. The Pope, Leo XIV, had previously warned the group that such actions would lead to excommunication, but the SSPX pressed forward, defying the Vatican’s authority.

The Papal Excommunication and Its Implications

The Vatican’s recent decree of excommunication, issued on July 2, classified all involved in the ordinations—including the two bishops who performed the consecrations, priests of the SSPX, and lay Catholics who formally adhere to the group—as being in schism. This decision followed years of tension, as the SSPX had been repeatedly cautioned about the consequences of their actions. The excommunication is a severe step, indicating that those affected are no longer considered members of the Church and are barred from receiving the sacraments.

Under canon law, excommunication is reserved for individuals who reject the Pope’s authority or refuse to remain in communion with the Church. The Vatican’s July 2 announcement emphasized that the SSPX’s actions threatened the unity of the Roman Catholic Church, with the Pope’s letter to the society’s superior general, Rev. Davide Pagliarani, serving as a precursor to this decision. The letter, dated June 29, urged Pagliarani to "Turn back," warning that the consecrations would be a "sin of extreme gravity" for endangering the Church’s cohesion.

"I implore you and ask you with all my heart: Turn back!" the Pope wrote in his letter. "It's precisely because we love the pope as the vicar of Christ that we do not want to see the pope humiliated anymore, next to false priests representing false religions."

Despite the Pope’s appeals, the SSPX proceeded with their plans. The ceremony, attended by over 1,000 clergy and 15,000 faithful, was a striking sight as participants wore free "Écône 2026" hats, transforming the crowd into a sea of white caps reminiscent of the Alps surrounding the village. At the event’s opening, Rev. Foucault le Roux, the society’s secretary general, defended the consecrations, stating that "every punishment or sanction" imposed on the SSPX would "have no validity." This declaration underscored the group’s resolve to maintain their independence from papal oversight.

A Legacy of Defiance and Reform

The SSPX traces its origins to 1970, when French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre founded the group in opposition to the changes introduced by the Second Vatican Council. These reforms, which took place between 1962 and 1965, emphasized lay participation, interreligious dialogue, and the use of vernacular languages in Mass. Lefebvre and his followers, however, sought to preserve the Tridentine Mass in Latin and resist modern interpretations of the Church’s teachings. Their movement gained traction among traditionalists who viewed the Council as a departure from Catholic orthodoxy.

In 1988, Lefebvre consecrated four bishops in Écône without Vatican approval, a move that led to his excommunication and the group’s designation as schismatic. Pope John Paul II had initially allowed the SSPX to remain in a state of ex corde (from the heart), which permitted limited sacramental activities but did not fully reconcile the group with the Church. This arrangement was later modified by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009, who remitted the excommunications as a gesture of reconciliation, though doctrinal disagreements persisted. The SSPX continued to operate under a "canonically irregular" status, meaning they were not fully integrated into the Church’s legal structure.

Under Pope Francis, the Vatican has maintained a balanced approach, granting the SSPX some concessions while asserting authority. In 2015, the Pope permitted SSPX priests to hear valid confessions, and in 2017, they were allowed to officiate marriages recognized by the Church. However, Francis’s 2021 restrictions on the Latin Mass sparked frustration among traditionalists, who saw it as a further encroachment on their practices. The latest consecrations, therefore, mark a significant escalation in the group’s resistance to papal directives.

The Path to Excommunication and Future Tensions

The Vatican’s excommunication decree, announced on July 2, signaled a shift in its stance toward the SSPX. The decree declared that the society now administers sacraments illicitly and is no longer authorized to conduct marriages or hear confessions. This move effectively reverses years of flexibility, positioning the SSPX as a breakaway faction once again. The Pope’s decision to excommunicate the group follows a 38-year gap since Lefebvre’s original excommunication in 1988, during which the SSPX had been granted temporary recognition.

Rev. Davide Pagliarani, the superior general of the SSPX, has framed the group’s actions as a defense of Catholic tradition. In a sermon during the ceremony, he stated, "We are accused of not loving the pope," arguing that their loyalty to the Pope as the "vicar of Christ" compelled them to oppose what they perceive as the elevation of false priests and religions. This rhetoric highlights the ideological divide between the SSPX and the Vatican, with the former viewing the Pope as a symbol of Christ’s authority rather than a centralizing figure.

The SSPX’s justification for the latest consecrations centered on a "state of necessity." With only two of the 1988 consecrated bishops still alive, the society argued that their limited numbers constrained their ability to ordain new priests. The group claims this crisis necessitated the appointment of additional bishops to sustain their mission. Despite the excommunication, the SSPX remains active, operating in 800 churches across 77 countries and serving an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 lay followers. Its vocational members include 733 priests and 264 seminarians, reflecting a significant presence within the global Catholic community.

The Pope’s excommunication of the SSPX now presents a critical challenge. With the latest consecrations, the Vatican risks losing decades of progress in reconciling with the group. The decree also underscores the Pope’s commitment to maintaining centralized authority, even as he continues to engage with the SSPX on matters of doctrine and practice. For the society, the excommunication is a test of resilience, as they navigate the consequences of their defiance while maintaining their traditional vision of the Church.

As the situation unfolds, the SSPX’s future remains uncertain. The Vatican’s July 2 decree has raised questions about the possibility of reintegration, but the group’s leaders have shown little inclination to compromise. Their declaration that "every punishment or sanction" would be invalid suggests a belief in their own legitimacy, even as they face formal exclusion from the Church. This latest conflict highlights the ongoing struggle between tradition and modernization in the Catholic Church, with the SSPX standing as a persistent symbol of that divide.