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Rebel Catholic group SSPX defies pope, consecrates bishops
DW.com • • world
Key Points:
- The Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), a traditionalist Catholic group, consecrated four bishops without Pope Leo XIV's approval, risking automatic excommunication and a schism with the Vatican.
- SSPX opposes the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, insisting on Latin masses and rejecting ecumenism, and justified the consecrations by citing a "state of necessity" due to a shortage of bishops for its global community.
- The consecration ceremony took place in Econe, Switzerland, was live-streamed, attended by thousands, and featured celebratory elements like souvenir wine and commemorative baseball caps.
- SSPX was founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in opposition to Vatican II reforms and has a controversial history, including association with Holocaust denial by one bishop and Lefebvre's support for the Vichy regime and far-right politics.
- The Vatican had appealed to SSPX not to proceed with the consecrations, but the SSPX superior requested a delay before any penalties are declared.
