SSPX proceeds with episcopal ordinations without Pope’s permission

The Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) proceeded with illicit episcopal consecrations of four new bishops on July 1, despite the pleading of Pope Leo XIV to turn back from committing this act of schism.

The ordinations took place in Écône, Switzerland, the town where the SSPX international seminary is located. It is also the town where SSPX founder Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre consecrated four bishops in 1988 without the permission of Pope St. John Paul II, incurring automatic excommunication on himself and the four bishops. 

Many have expressed concern that the SSPX’s decision to ordain bishops this year without the Pope’s permission will have similar ramifications. The Vatican has previously and repeatedly told the SSPX that carrying out the consecrations — a plan announced in February — will constitute a schismatic act. 

At the beginning of the liturgy, Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta, who was the principal consecrator, asked, “Do you have the apostolic mandate?”

Another clergyman read the response contained in the bull, which argued that the Church authorities, since Vatican II, “have been animated by a spirit that is contrary to that of the faith” and also claimed that all punishment that may be brought against the consecrations will be invalid. 

“It is the Catholic and Roman Church, always faithful to the holy tradition received from the apostles, who, in entirely exceptional circumstances, demands that we provide for the upholding of these traditions — that is, of the deposit of faith — and that we take the means necessary to transmit them faithfully to all men for the salvation of souls,” the bull read, according to the English translation from the narrator of the livestream.

“From the Second Vatican Council up to the present day, the authorities of the Church have been animated by a spirit that is contrary to that of the faith and have been acting against the holy Tradition,” it continued. “They will no longer endure sound doctrine, turning away their hearing from the truth and turning towards fables, as St. Paul says to Timothy in his second epistle.

“Therefore before God, we consider it a sacred duty towards Holy Church and towards souls to proceed with the consecration of bishops who are entirely faithful to her holy tradition and to her constant Magisterium. Moreover, everywhere in the world we hear souls beseeching us that, by the preaching of the truth and the administration of the sacraments, the Bread of Life which is Christ might be given to them.”

“That is why,” the bull continued, “out of compassion for this multitude, we have the most serious duty to transmit the grace of the episcopate to these dear priests, so that they themselves might confer the grace of the priesthood on many clerics, formed according to the holy traditions of the Catholic Church. And we consider that every punishment and censure brought to bear against this step will have no validity.”

>> SSPX announces names of 4 future bishops, weeks after Vatican says bishop ordinations will constitute schism << 

A number of clergy and religious sat in the tented area where the altar was located. A crowd of laypeople were in attendance outside, many holding umbrellas throughout the multi-hour liturgy. 

It began raining heavily at the beginning of the distribution of communion, resulting in the decision to postpone distribution to the faithful outside. As the downpour continued, the celebrants decided to pause the ceremony fully, and pray the Rosary. 

After the rain lightened, the liturgy continued, and the communion of the faithful was included. 

Two days earlier, Pope Leo had sent a letter to SSPX Superior General Father Davide Pagliarani imploring the society to cancel the planned consecrations and consider a path of dialogue with the Church. 

“[F]illed with Christian affection,” the Holy Father said, “I plead with you and ask you with all my heart: please turn back! I urge you to consider carefully the spiritual good of the faithful, because the schismatic act you are about to undertake would deprive them of the licit and, in some cases, even valid reception of the Sacraments, which they love and seek for their sanctification.”

Emphasizing that he is praying for them, the Pontiff also warned that “to tear the seamless garment of Christ is a sin of extreme gravity.”

Pope Leo said he entrusted his intentions to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Good Counsel, writing, “May the Lord enlighten your consciences and awaken your hearts. With a sorrowful yet hopeful heart, I feel it is my duty, through the authority received from Christ, to ask you to desist from your intended act.”

Father Pagliarani responded June 30 to the Holy Father’s letter by asking for the Pope’s blessing. 

After the consecrations, the SSPX issued a statement announcing the ordinations and acknowledging that they took place without Pope Leo’s approval.

“The Society sincerely regrets that, owing to exceptional circumstances, these consecrations had to be conferred without the authorization of the Holy Father,” the SSPX stated. “It regrets in particular that the Superior General of the Society was not afforded the opportunity to meet personally with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, in order to set before him filially the grave reasons which rendered this ceremony necessary.”

The statement continued, “The profound joy inspired by these episcopal consecrations cannot, however, be overshadowed.” It described the new bishops as “a very great grace for the Society itself and for the whole Church.”

The SSPX concluded by stating that it “rejoices deeply in this” and thanks God and the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

It remains to be seen what the Vatican will state regarding the schismatic act. After the illicit SSPX consecrations took place in 1988, Pope John Paul II issued an apostolic letter declaring that the “act was one of disobedience to the Roman Pontiff in a very grave matter and of supreme importance for the unity of the church, such as is the ordination of bishops whereby the apostolic succession is sacramentally perpetuated.”

“Hence such disobedience — which implies in practice the rejection of the Roman primacy — constitutes a schismatic act,” the pontiff wrote, declaring also that the five involved clergy also incurred automatic excommunication.