The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) consecrated four new bishops in Écône, Switzerland, on July 1, 2026, without the required Apostolic Mandate from Pope Leo XIV. During the ceremony, a notary for Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta did not present the formal approval, instead delivering a statement regarding the necessity of the occasion. As a result of this action, the bishops involved are automatically excommunicated from the Catholic Church, as per Catholic doctrine regarding illicit consecrations.
The SSPX, a traditionalist Catholic community founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, has historically fluctuated between communion and separation from the Catholic Church. The group exclusively celebrates the Traditional Latin Mass and has expressed concerns over modernist influences within the Church since the Second Vatican Council.
In February 2026, the SSPX announced plans to consecrate new bishops, prompting the Vatican to suspend the consecrations and invite SSPX representatives for discussions. However, requests for a meeting with Pope Leo XIV were not addressed, leading to the consecration despite the Vatican's warnings.
Pope Leo XIV had previously urged SSPX leadership to engage in dialogue rather than pursue actions leading to schism. Following the consecrations, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernandez, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, expressed hope for future dialogue, while the SSPX stated it regretted the necessity of proceeding without papal authorization.