VATICAN CITY (AP).—The Pope Leo XIV faces his first big crisis with the traditionalist Catholicsafter a dissident group attached to the traditional Latin mass announce plans for consecrate new bishops without papal consentwhat could generate a schism.
The Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX)group that has headquarters in Switzerland with schools, chapels and seminaries around the worldhas opposed the modernizing reforms of the Vatican Council II
In 1988, the group’s founder, arzobispo Marcel Lefebvre, consecrated four bishops without papal consentarguing that it was necessary for the survival of the Church’s tradition. The Vatican quickly excommunicated Lefebvre and the other four bishops, and the group today still has no legal status in the Catholic church.
But in the decades since the breakup, the group has continued to grow.
For the Vatican, papal consent for the consecration of bishops is a fundamental doctrine, which guarantees the line of apostolic succession since the time of the apostles originals of Christ. The consecration of bishops without papal consent is considered a serious threat to the unity of the Church and a cause of schism, since bishops can ordain new priests. According to Church law, a consecration without papal consent carries automatic excommunication for the person celebrating it and the supposed new bishop.
Failed reconciliation
The Vatican had tried for years reconcile with the SSPXas the group is known, fearing the growth of a parallel church.
But after one of the bishops of the SSPX, Richard Williamson, publicly denied the Holocaust in a television interview in 2008, tensions deepened, especially during the pontificate of Francis.
He Pope Francis reversed Benedict’s reform which allowed greater celebration of the mass in Latin, arguing that it had become a source of division in the Church.
León has recognized the tensions and has sought to pacify the debate, expressing an openness to dialogue and allowing exceptions to Francis’ restrictions.
But la SSPX declared in a statement on Monday that it had no choice but to proceed with the consecrations of new bishops on July 1, to preserve the future of society.
The rEverending Davide Pagliarani, superior general of the SSPX, said that had written to León explaining the need for new bishops “to respond to the many faithful attached to the tradition of the Church.”
Vatican spokesmanMatto Brunisuggested yesterday that the Vatican was still open to negotiations to “avoid ruptures or unilateral solutions.”
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