Pope Leo XIV is facing another major challenge of His pontificate after issuing an urgent appeal to a breakaway Catholic group to abandon plans to consecrate four bishops without Vatican approval.
In a letter addressed to the Rev. Davide Pagliarani, leader of the Society of St. Pius X, the pope warned that the planned ceremony in Econe, Switzerland, would deepen a decades-old division within the Roman Catholic Church and place those involved outside the church’s communion.
“I plead with you and ask you with all my heart: please turn back!” Leo wrote.
The Society of St. Pius X, commonly known as SSPX, announced it intends to move forward with the consecrations, arguing there is a “state of necessity” requiring additional bishops to serve its faithful.
According to Roman Catholic canon law, consecrating bishops without papal approval is considered a schismatic act and carries automatic excommunication for both the bishop performing the consecration and those being ordained.
Leo warned the consequences would extend beyond church leadership.
“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,” the pope wrote.
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A Longstanding Divide
The dispute traces its roots to the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council. The Society of St. Pius X was founded in opposition to several church reforms, including permitting Mass to be celebrated in local languages rather than exclusively in Latin.
The group maintains it is preserving authentic Catholic teaching while remaining outside the Vatican’s official authority.
The current dispute closely mirrors events in 1988, when the society’s founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, consecrated four bishops without papal approval. The Vatican responded by excommunicating Lefebvre and the newly consecrated bishops. Those excommunications were lifted in 2009 as part of an effort to restore relations, but the SSPX has never returned to full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.
Despite its irregular status, the organization has continued to grow, reporting hundreds of priests, seminarians and religious members serving in dozens of countries.
A Reminder for the Church
While this dispute centers on the governance of the Roman Catholic Church, it also serves as a reminder that unity and doctrinal faithfulness remain vital concerns for everyone who professes the name of Christ.
Jesus prayed that His followers “may all be one” (John 17:21), while also calling His people to remain rooted in truth. Scripture likewise reminds us that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).
As we watch divisions unfold across the broader Christian landscape, we should be reminded to remain anchored in the authority of God’s Word, to pursue unity grounded in biblical truth, and to faithfully contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
