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Vatican excommunicates SSPX
The Vatican announced this Thursday the excommunication of several leaders of the Society of Saint Pius X (FSSPX/SSPX) after the group consecrated bishops without the pope’s consent, describing the consecrations as an “act of nature cismática” and a “schismatic act.”
“El Vaticano anunció este jueves la excomunión de varios jerarcas”
The decree excommunicated the four newly consecrated bishops and also declared that lay Catholics who “formally adhere” to the society are to be considered schismatic and excommunicated, while the Vatican later clarified that not all members would be excommunicated automatically.
The Vatican’s doctrine office, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, said it excommunicated Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta “al haber cometido un acto de naturaleza cismática mediante la consagración episcopal de cuatro presbíteros, sin mandato pontificio y en contra de la voluntad del sumo pontífice”.
AP reported that during a ritual-filled, five-hour Mass on Wednesday at the SSPX seminary in Econe, Switzerland, the society consecrated four new bishops in direct defiance of Pope Leo XIV, who had urged the SSPX to hold off for the sake of church unity.
The BBC said the Vatican decree excommunicated the Society’s total of six bishops and warned that those who “formally adhere” and those who “habitually participate” in SSPX celebrations and “formally share its doctrinal positions” face the harshest sanctions.
Voices and disputes
Marc-André Mabillard, media manager for the society, told The Associated Press that the excommunication “extended to the faithful is brutal,” adding, “It’s not what we expect from a father to whom we refer every day.”
The BBC quoted SSPX worshipper Rita Reid from Jersey in the Channel Islands saying, “It actually makes me feel quite strong.”
In a decree and explanatory notes, the Vatican warned that “The sacred ministers of the Society of St Pius X administer the sacraments illicitly,” while the BBC reported that the Vatican later said those who left the SSPX would be welcomed back “with sincere affection.”
AP reported that the Vatican’s doctrine chief, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, met in February with the SSPX superior, the Rev. Davide Pagliarani, and proposed a dialogue, but Pagliarani asked instead to meet with Leo, who declined but wrote a letter Tuesday begging the SSPX to call off the consecrations.
The BBC also described how the Vatican’s move went beyond what was expected, with the excommunication of lay members who continue to be part of the SSPX described as a surprise to many.
What comes next
The Vatican’s sanctions were described as reversing concessions granted in recent years as part of outreach to bring the SSPX back under Rome’s wing, with AP saying the decree invalidated the sacraments of confession and marriage that SSPX priests administer.
“The Vatican warned the faithful to stop going to SSPX Masses”
AP reported that the Vatican warned the faithful to stop going to SSPX Masses, decreeing that “those who adhere formally” to the society are schismatic and excommunicated, while the sanctions did not apply to Catholics who attend “just for liturgical or spiritual reasons” or those who accept the pope’s authority and teaching.
The BBC said the excommunication means a baptised follower is “out of communion” with the Church and cannot receive sacraments such as going to confession or get married within the Roman Catholic Church.
In Switzerland, the consecrations were carried out at the SSPX seminary in Econe, and NPR reported that Pope Leo had published a letter dated June 29 addressed to the superior general, the Rev. Davide Pagliarani, urging: “Turn back!”
NPR added that the latest consecrations could prompt Pope Leo to end the Vatican’s decades of dialogue with the breakaway society, while the Vatican’s July 2 decree states the SSPX now administers the sacraments illicitly and can no longer officiate marriages or hear valid confessions.