Pope Leo excommunicates Society of St. Pius X bishops, asserting Church authority

Pope Leo, who was elected in May 2025 and promised to unify the 1.4 billion‑member Catholic Church without ruling as an “autocrat,” oversaw a decisive action this week. The Vatican announced that priests and lay members of the Swiss‑based Society of St. Pius X have been excommunicated after the group ordained four new bishops without papal approval, putting them in schism with the wider Church.

Experts say the move shows Leo’s willingness to be “extremely clear or firm when he needs to be,” drawing “a very clear line in the sand” that the Church will not tolerate unauthorized episcopal consecrations. The Society, which rejects many reforms of the Second Vatican Council and seeks to preserve the Latin Mass, claimed it needed more prelates to lead its 733 worldwide priests.

Under canon law, unauthorized ordinations result in automatic excommunication, barring participants from receiving sacraments until they repent. The decision underscores Leo’s broader approach to re‑assert papal authority while continuing his mission to renew the Church’s synodal vision.