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Traditionalist group consecrates four bishops in Switzerland without papal approval
The Society of St. Pius X performed the consecrations on July 1 at its Econe seminary. Pope Leo XIV had warned the act would constitute a sin of extreme gravity.
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The Society of St. Pius X consecrated four new bishops on July 1 at its seminary in Econe, Switzerland, proceeding with the five-hour ceremony in a tent despite a direct appeal from Pope Leo XIV to cancel it. Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta of Spain administered the rite to Pascal Schreiber of Switzerland, Michael Goldade of the United States, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry of France and Marc Hanappier of France.
An estimated 16,500 people attended the event, which was livestreamed on the society's YouTube channel with simultaneous translations in several languages. Pope Leo XIV sent a letter on June 30 stating that consecrating bishops without papal approval amounts to a sin of extreme gravity.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the pope's secretary of state, described the consecrations as a schismatic act that incurs excommunications.
The society acknowledged in a statement late Wednesday that the consecrations lacked papal approval. At the start of the Mass a priest read a statement declaring that every punishment and censure against the step would have no validity. The SSPX superior, Rev.
Davide Pagliarani, said in his homily that the consecrations were necessary for the salvation of souls and that the society serves Pope Leo XIV and the church. The group currently counts six bishops, 751 priests, 264 seminarians, 145 religious brothers, 88 oblates and 250 religious sisters from 50 nationalities.
The society was founded by French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in opposition to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council.
In 1988 Lefebvre consecrated four bishops without papal consent and was excommunicated along with them. Pope Benedict XVI lifted those excommunications in 2009, though the SSPX has no legal standing in the Catholic Church. Registered participants could purchase a souvenir set of four wines commemorating the event for 75 Swiss francs.
The Vatican did not immediately comment on the consecrations. Arlina Onglao, a 71-year-old travel agent from the Philippines, said she was not scared of excommunications. Wulfran Lindzondzo, a 42-year-old medical researcher from Gabon living in France, said he attended to rediscover tradition.
