Excommunicated Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta elevates the host during an illicit consecration Mass in Écône, Switzerland, celebrated by the Society of St. Pius X on July 1, 2026. The following day, the Vatican declared the four new bishops and those who consecrated them to be schismatics, as well as all the clergy and lay faithful who adhere to the schism. (Courtesy of the Society of St. Pius X)

Vatican declares SSPX bishops, priests schismatic, says lay faithful risk excommunication

Vatican

After the Society of St. Pius X created four new bishops in defiance of Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican declared that the bishops, the men who consecrated them and the priests and laity who adhered to the schism, had been excommunicated.

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In a combination photo Pope Leo XIV is pictured speaking in northern Italy, June 20, 2026, and Fr. Davide Pagliarani, superior general of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, is pictured in 2018 in Econe, Switzerland. (OSV News/Vatican Media/Mario Tomassetti and CPP/KNA/Jean-Matthieu Gautier)
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The newly consecrated SSPX bishops process to the seminary courtyard after the July1 consecration outside St. Pius X seminary, in Econe, Switzerland, July 1, 2026. (Courtesy of Society of Saint Pius X)
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The Society of St. Pius X's Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta is seen July 1, 2026, in Écône, Switzerland, during a liturgical service for the consecration of SSPX bishops. Galarreta, along with Bishop Bernard Fellay of SSPX and four newly consecrated bishops were excommunicated by the Vatican July 2, as the consecration lacked the mandate of the pope and was decreed to be schismatic. (OSV News/CPP)

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Excommunicated Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta elevates the host during an illicit consecration Mass in Écône, Switzerland, celebrated by the Society of St. Pius X on July 1, 2026. The following day, the Vatican declared the four new bishops and those who consecrated them to be schismatics, as well as all the clergy and lay faithful who adhere to the schism. (Courtesy of the Society of St. Pius X)

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