Why Vatican took action against traditionalist Catholic group 'SSPX'

The Vatican has declared priests and members of the ultra-traditionalist Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) to be in schism and automatically excommunicated after the group defied Pope Leo XIV by ordaining four bishops without papal approval.

The decision, announced on Thursday, followed Wednesday's ordinations, which went ahead despite repeated appeals from Pope Leo XIV for the ceremony to be cancelled.

According to the BBC, the Vatican's doctrinal office also excommunicated the two bishops who took part in the ordinations and warned that any priests or lay members who formally align themselves with the SSPX will also be considered in schism and face automatic excommunication.

The ruling prevents those affected from receiving the sacraments and describes the ordinations as a serious violation of church unity.

The Vatican also outlined how affected priests can return to full communion with the Catholic Church.

According to Vatican News, they must write personally to the pope requesting that the penalty be lifted, profess their faith, and pledge not to publicly oppose the pontiff or his teachings, among other requirements.

The doctrinal office said the church remains ready to welcome those who wish to return.

Pope Leo XIV had warned before the ceremony that proceeding with the ordinations would amount to a "schismatic" act and a "sin of extreme gravity."

Although the pope has not commented publicly since the ordinations, Cardinal Pietro Parolin expressed "deep sorrow," saying the ceremony fractured church unity and triggered canonical penalties, including excommunication.

Founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, the SSPX has long opposed reforms introduced by the Second Vatican Council, including changes to the Mass, religious freedom, and ecumenism. The group was previously sanctioned after unauthorised bishop consecrations in 1988.

While recent popes had extended limited pastoral concessions to the SSPX, the latest decree goes further by declaring marriages and confessions performed by the group's priests invalid.

Despite the sanctions, SSPX leaders defended their decision.

Father Michael Goldade, one of the newly ordained bishops, criticised what he called the "modernist church" after the ceremony.