30/06/2026 15:17 - Internacionales
Pope Leo XIV, elected just over a year ago, faces the first major challenge of his pontificate: the Society of Saint Pius X (FSSPX), a traditionalist Catholic group, plans to ordain four bishops without his approval on July 1, 2026 at their seminary in Écône, Switzerland. The Pontiff warned that this act would constitute a "sin of extreme gravity" and a schismatic action, with automatic excommunication for those involved.
In a letter addressed to the Society, Leo XIV wrote: "I beg and implore you from the bottom of my heart: please, turn back! I pray for you, because tearing the seamless garment of Christ is a sin of extreme gravity. May the Lord enlighten your consciences and awaken your hearts."
The Society of Saint Pius X (FSSPX) was founded in 1970 in Switzerland by French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. The group rejects the reforms introduced by the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), a historic gathering of Catholic bishops that modernized many Church practices. Key objections include:
In 1988, Marcel Lefebvre ordained four bishops without papal approval, resulting in the excommunication of the group. These excommunications were later lifted by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009. The Society argues it acts in a "state of emergency" in the Church due to the introduction of "liberal" and "modernist" ideas.
Currently, the FSSPX has approximately 700 priests and 600,000 followers worldwide—relatively small compared to the 1.4 billion Catholics and nearly 400,000 priests in the Roman Catholic Church.
On June 30, 2026, the Superior General of the Society, Fr. Davide Pagliarani, responded with a letter to Pope Leo XIV. He thanked the Pontiff for his letter and expressed a "sincere desire to serve the Church," stating that this intention is not "fictitious."
Pagliarani argued that the FSSPX does not seek to separate from the Roman Church but rather to serve it "through extraordinary means, as one helps a mother going through serious difficulties." He noted that the Society was already declared schismatic in 1988 "for reasons and circumstances absolutely analogous to the current ones," and that the Pope's dialogue with them proves that "the Society is neither schismatic nor hostile to the Church."
The Superior General mentioned that two bishops of the Church, Bishop Vitus Huonder (now deceased) and Bishop Athanasius Schneider, publicly recognized the "profoundly Catholic spirit" of the Society after dialogue with them. He asked the Pope to "take the necessary time for this discernment" and consider "the thousands of souls who have rediscovered the Catholic faith and religious practice thanks to the Society's apostolate."
Pagliarani concluded: "One day, all difficulties between the Holy See and the Society will be resolved. A gesture of understanding from Your Holiness, far from harming unity, will only manifest before the world and all Christians your concern for unity and your fatherly kindness."
Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago and a close ally of the Pope, told CNN that the danger lies in "creating a parallel structure within the ecclesial body of the Church." He noted that the Pope has sent multiple invitations to the Society to reconsider their plans.
In Catholic doctrine, the bond between bishops and the Pope is a fundamental pillar of Church unity. The ordination of bishops without pontifical consent is considered a grave violation of canon law. If the FSSPX proceeds with the episcopal consecrations on July 1, 2026, the new bishops will be excommunicated—officially excluded from the Church's sacraments.
The FSSPX has created a website with details of the four days of events surrounding the ordinations, including a commemorative case with four bottles of wine for 75 Swiss francs. One of the bishops to be ordained is Fr. Michael Goldade, rector of the Dillwyn, Virginia (USA) seminary.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Planned ordination date | July 1, 2026 |
| Location | Écône Seminary, Switzerland |
| FSSPX foundation | 1970 (by Marcel Lefebvre) |
| Previous excommunication | 1988 (ordination of 4 bishops without papal approval) |
| Excommunication lifted | 2009 (by Benedict XVI) |
| FSSPX priests | Approximately 700 |
| Followers | Approximately 600,000 |
Sources: CNN, FSSPX.News
Since his election, Pope Leo XIV has made promoting ecclesial unity a priority. The outcome of this crisis will largely define the pontificate's stance toward traditionalist movements and papal authority in the contemporary Catholic Church.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
