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Vatican Excommunicates SSPX Bishops and Warns Followers Over Growing Church Schism

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The Vatican has formally excommunicated the six bishops of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), a conservative Catholic group, after it consecrated four new bishops despite direct instructions from Pope Leo XIV not to do so. In an unprecedented move, the Vatican also declared that lay members who formally adhere to the group’s teachings and regularly participate in its religious activities may also be considered excommunicated, while inviting those who leave the society to return to the Catholic Church.

Founded in 1970, the SSPX rejects many of the reforms introduced by the Second Vatican Council, including celebrating Mass in local languages instead of Latin and other modern changes within the Roman Catholic Church. The group, which has an estimated 600,000 followers worldwide, maintains traditional practices and opposes the Church’s increased dialogue with other Christian denominations and other faiths. It has a significant presence in countries including the United States, France and the United Kingdom.

The Vatican clarified that not every SSPX member would automatically be excommunicated, but those who consistently participate in its services and publicly support its doctrinal positions would be regarded as being in schism with the Church. Excommunication is one of the Church’s most severe penalties, preventing individuals from receiving sacraments and fully participating in Catholic life. The latest decision marks a major setback in years of efforts to reconcile the Vatican with the traditionalist movement.

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Pope Leo Closes Holy Year, Calls for Compassion Toward Foreigners

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Pope Leo on Tuesday formally closed the Catholic Church’s Holy Year by sealing the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, urging Christians around the world to show greater kindness to those in need, especially foreigners and migrants. Speaking at a Vatican ceremony, he reflected on the record 33.5 million pilgrims who visited Rome during the jubilee, calling on them to recognise humanity in strangers rather than viewing people as commodities.

Highlighting themes that have defined the early months of his papacy, Leo criticised what he described as a distorted global economy that seeks to profit from everything, including human movement and aspiration. Dressed in gold-trimmed vestments, the pope shut the bronze Holy Door at 9:41 a.m., officially ending the jubilee year, which traditionally symbolises peace, forgiveness and renewal for Catholics.

The 2025 Holy Year was notable as a rare historical event, having been opened by Pope Francis and closed by his successor, following Francis’ death in April after 12 years as pontiff. Vatican officials said pilgrims arrived from 185 countries, led by Italy, the United States, Spain, Brazil and Poland. The next jubilee is not expected before 2033, when the Church may mark 2,000 years since the death of Jesus.

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