Pope Urges Traditionalists to Avoid Divisive Bishop Consecrations

WHO:

Fox News - Pope Leo XIV issued a plea to the Society of St. Pius X, a breakaway Catholic group.

WHAT:

CNN - The Society of Saint Pius X is expected to ordain four bishops at its seminary in Écône, Switzerland.

CNN - Pope Leo XIV described the planned ordinations as a “schismatic” act.

CNN - The group has issued a 28-page “profession of Catholic faith” to “enlighten souls in the face of modern errors.”

CNN - The Society of Saint Pius X has approximately 700 priests and 600,000 followers worldwide.

Fox News - Pope Leo XIV warned the Society of St. Pius X against consecrating bishops without Vatican approval, labeling it a "sin of extreme gravity."

ABC News World - Pope Leo XIV is urging the breakaway group to call off its planned consecrations of new bishops without his consent.

WHERE:

CNN - The seminary for the Society of Saint Pius X is located in Écône, Switzerland, with additional training facilities in Dillwyn, Virginia.

WHY:

CNN - The Society of Saint Pius X believes it must prioritize “the salvation of souls” due to what they perceive as a “state of emergency” in the Catholic Church.

Fox News - The Pope's warning includes the potential consequence of excommunication for those who proceed with unauthorized consecrations.

(UPDATED June 30, 2026 17:39 UTC)

The Society of Saint Pius X is set to ordain four bishops at its seminary in Écône, Switzerland, a move that Pope Leo XIV has labeled as “schismatic.” In response to what they see as a “state of emergency” in the Catholic Church, the group has issued a 28-page “profession of Catholic faith” aimed at enlightening souls against modern errors, and they currently have around 700 priests and 600,000 followers worldwide. The Society also operates additional training facilities in Dillwyn, Virginia, as part of their mission to prioritize the salvation of souls.

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(UPDATED June 30, 2026 13:37 UTC)

Pope Leo XIV has issued a strong plea to the Society of St. Pius X, warning them against consecrating bishops without Vatican approval, which he described as a "sin of extreme gravity." He is urging the breakaway group to cancel their planned consecrations, emphasizing that those who proceed without his consent could face excommunication. This warning highlights the ongoing tensions between the Vatican and the Society of St. Pius X over issues of authority and church governance.