A traditionalist Catholic faction is poised to directly challenge Pope Leo XIV, risking schism and automatic excommunication, as it prepares to consecrate four bishops without papal consent. The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) has scheduled a major ceremony for Wednesday at its seminary in Econe, Switzerland, nestled in a mountain valley in the country’s southwest.
This defiant move comes despite a last-ditch appeal from Pope Leo XIV, who warned that consecrating bishops without his approval constitutes a "sin of extreme gravity" that would ultimately harm their followers. The event is expected to attract thousands who favour the ancient Latin Mass over the modern liturgies prevalent in most Catholic churches.
