Vatican Confirms Excommunication of SSPX Following Illicit Bishop Consecrations

The Vatican has officially recognized the excommunication of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) after the group conducted unauthorized bishop consecrations in Écône, Switzerland, on July 1, 2026. This action was taken despite explicit instructions from Pope Leo XIV not to proceed with the consecrations. The Vatican's Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a statement declaring that the act constituted schism and that both clerics and lay members involved are to be considered excommunicated. The decree specifically named the bishops involved in the consecrations, Alfonso de Galarreta and Bernard Fellay, along with the newly consecrated bishops: Pascal Schreiber, Michael Goldade, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry, and Marc Hanappier. The Vatican clarified that laypeople attending SSPX services for liturgical or spiritual reasons are not automatically considered excommunicated. The SSPX, founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, has historically maintained that it is not in schism but rather committed to traditional Catholic practices. The Vatican's statement emphasized the Church's willingness to welcome those wishing to return to communion, outlining a process for reconciliation that includes acceptance of the Second Vatican Council and the legitimacy of the new mass.