By – Brady Penfield
The Society of Saint Pius X(SSPX) formed in 1970 ostensibly to preserve the Traditional Latin Mass(TLM) and pre-Vatican II teachings amid perceived post-1965 “modernist” changes in liturgy, doctrine, and discipline. It operates seminaries, schools, and chapels worldwide with hundreds of priests and has an estimated ~600,000 parishioners.
Tensions peaked in 1988 when Bishop Lefebvre, the founder of the SSPX, consecrated four bishops without the papal mandate which was required. Pope John Paul II called it schismatic; automatic excommunications followed of Lefebvre and the four bishops he consecrated. Additionally, any clergy or laity were excommunicated if they adhered to the schism. Pope Benedict XVI lifted these excommunications in 2009.
Fast forward from 2009 to today. The SSPX were maintaining communications with the Vatican though they continually voiced their many concerns. However, SSPX were in a sort of gray area, like an irregular canonical status, where they were not fully in communion with Rome, but not fully schismatic yet either. They were “tending towards schism”.
Tensions heightened again, on July 1st 2026, when the current leader of the SSPX, Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta, alongside Bishop Bernard Fellay decided to consecrate four new bishops without “a papal mandate” and “against the will of the supreme pontiff”. This is exactly what happened in 1988 with Lefebvre.
The following day, July 2nd, the Vatican’s Dicastery on the Doctrine of Faith, led by Prefect Cardinal Victor Fernandez, officially declared that the two bishops who participated in the consecration and the 4 new bishops yesterday are automatically excommunicated per canon law. This time, similar to the excommunication in the 1980’s, the Vatican declared that “Clerics and secular faithful are warned not to adhere to the schism of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X, because they would incur ipso facto in the penalty of excommunication late sententiae.”
The aforementioned means if you are a lay Catholic, aka not a priest, and “formally adhere” to the SSPX schism you are excommunicated as well. “Formally adhering” is defined as: Freely and consciously sharing the substance of the schism and exclusive participation at SSPX masses. The sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Matrimony have been declared invalid if administered by an SSPX priest. The sacraments of the Eucharist and Baptism administered by the SSPX are still valid but considered illicit.
What this means for SSPX Churchgoers is that they should no longer attend SSPX mass and find a different community so as to avoid automatically excommunicating themselves. There are several other TLM communities in full communion with Rome such as the FSSP and ICKSP.
Catholics must acknowledge the legitimacy of Pope Leo XIV as the Supreme Pontiff. Furthermore, submission means full communion and acceptance of governance. The fact that the consecration was facilitated without a papal mandate implies the rejection of papal primacy and unity, thus constituting schism.
While this is likely the most noteworthy schism declared by the Catholic Church in recent history it’s important to acknowledge that this has happened many times over the two millennia of the Church’s history. It is not novel nor was it made lightly or without just cause.
Brady Penfield is a Roman Catholic, lifelong Wisconsinite and UW-River Falls graduate. He is a former State Assembly candidate and a leader in the young conservative movement in Wisconsin.
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