Breakaway Catholic group excommunicated after defying warnings from Pope Leo

Source: CNN World

Updated Jul 2, 2026, 1:54 PM ET
PUBLISHED Jul 2, 2026, 3:46 AM ET


Rome - The Vatican announced Thursday that priests and members of a breakaway Catholic group that ordained four new bishops in defiance of Pope Leo XIV’s wishes are in schism and excommunicated.

The Society of Saint Pius X, an ultra-traditionalist group, went ahead with the ordinations on Wednesday without papal approval and despite appeals from Leo to reverse the decision.

In response, the Vatican’s doctrinal office on Thursday published a decree saying that the four bishops are excommunicated, along with the two bishops who participated in the ordination ceremony. Excommunication means they are excluded from the sacraments of the church.

It added in an explanatory note that priests belonging to the society and lay members who “formally adhere” to the group are also in schism and excommunicated. The decree warns all “clerics and the lay faithful” not to formally follow the society as they will automatically incur the penalty of excommunication.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/02/europe/vatican-excommunicates-breakaway-catholic-group-intl