Thousands of people gathered in the Swiss village of Écône on Wednesday as the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) ordained four new Catholic bishops, ignoring a direct appeal from Pope Leo XIV to halt the ceremony.
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The newly ordained bishops include one from the United States, one from Switzerland and two from France. They belong to the traditionalist SSPX, a group founded by French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre that has long opposed key reforms introduced by the Catholic Church following the Second Vatican Council.
Ordinations Go Ahead Despite Vatican Warning
Earlier this week, Pope Leo described the planned ordinations as a "schismatic act" that could "tear the seamless garment of Christ" and urged SSPX leaders not to proceed.
Despite the warning, the ceremony took place under grey Alpine skies before a crowd estimated at more than 15,000 people.
Traditional Ceremony Highlights Long-Running Dispute
Hundreds of priests in ceremonial robes processed through Écône carrying candles, crosses and incense before entering a large tent erected in a nearby field.
During the Latin-language ceremony, the four bishop candidates lay prostrate before the altar with their heads resting on red velvet cushions before taking their ordination vows.
The SSPX rejects several reforms introduced by the Vatican during the 1960s and 1970s. Among them are the use of local languages instead of Latin during Mass, greater engagement with other religions, support for religious freedom, and liturgical changes such as priests facing the congregation during services.
The group has argued that these reforms moved the Church away from its traditional teachings and practices.
Pope Faces Fresh Test Over Church Unity
Ordaining bishops without the Pope's approval is considered one of the most serious breaches of Catholic Church unity.
When the SSPX last ordained bishops without papal consent in 1988, those bishops were immediately excommunicated. Pope Benedict XVI lifted those excommunications in 2009 in an effort to improve relations, although the broader dispute remained unresolved.
Pope Leo is now expected to exclude the four newly ordained bishops from the Catholic Church, though the Vatican has not announced any further disciplinary measures.
SSPX Superior General Davide Pagliarani rejected suggestions that the ordinations were intended to deepen divisions. Addressing those attending the ceremony, he said the group acted "precisely because we love the Pope as the vicar of Christ, as the head of the Church" and added that it did not want to see the Pope "humiliated any more, on the side of false shepherds representing false religions".
Small Movement With Global Reach
Although the SSPX is estimated to have around 600,000 followers compared with the Catholic Church's more than 1.4 billion members, it has established a presence in dozens of countries, including the United States, where it has a strong following in Kansas.
The Écône ceremony was livestreamed on YouTube in seven languages. Visitors could also buy commemorative merchandise, including "Écône2026" baseball caps and gift packs of Swiss wine featuring labels depicting a bishop's mitre.
The events present an early challenge for Pope Leo, who has only recently assumed the papacy. While he has declared the ordinations illegitimate and warned they threaten Church unity, further action against the SSPX could risk deepening the divisions he has warned against.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 2 July 2026