Vatican Excommunicates Half a Million Societies of Saint Pius X Followers

Sun Sep 06 2026 08:07:59 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Catholic Church has declared more than 600,000 conservative followers of the Society of Saint Pius X schismatic after bishops ordained new bishops against papal orders, sparking a historic rift.

The Vatican issued a sweeping decree excommunicating all 6 bishops of the Society of Saint Pius X and every lay member involved, marking an unprecedented censure after four new bishops were consecrated in Geneva. The Society, founded in 1970 to oppose modernist reforms, has long resisted changes to the liturgy and church‑society dialogue. Traditionalists cite a perceived drift from true doctrine, arguing the church has abandoned authentic teaching. While the decree severally bars adherents from sacraments, the Vatican extends a warm invitation to those willing to rejoin the Roman Catholic fold.

Vatican Excommunicates Half a Million Societies of Saint Pius X Followers

The Catholic Church has declared more than half a million members of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) excommunicated after four bishops within the group consecrated new bishops in Geneva without papal approval. The act came following a direct instruction from Pope Leo XIV to halt such ordinations.

The Vatican’s decree went further than expected, naming all six existing SSPX bishops and every lay member who remains in the organization as schismatic and under excommunication. In a statement of grace, the Holy See said those wishing to leave SSPX and return to the Roman Catholic Church would be welcomed back with sincere affection.

The Society of Saint Pius X was founded in 1970 to oppose the modernising reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Its membership numbers around six hundred thousand worldwide and is strongest in the United States, France and the UK, operating 26 worship sites in the British Isles.

Rita Reid, a 76‑year‑old worshiper from Jersey, told reporters that her faith remains intact despite the church’s decision. She said she does not see the excommunication as a problem, arguing the measures do not affect the spiritual reality she experiences.

SSPX liturgies remain in Latin and follow pre‑Vatican II rites. Priests face the altar, communions are delivered directly into the mouths of kneeling worshipers, and women cover their heads during services. These practices underline SSPX’s strict adherence to traditional doctrine and social conservatism.

Historically the group has been disciplined. Bishops in the 1980s faced rebuke for disobeying Rome but the penalties were later reversed. More recent efforts for reconciliation have seen fresh tension as the Vatican’s current response is noticeably harsher and more decisive.

The excommunication decree effectively excludes SSPX adherents from Catholic sacraments such as confession, communion, and marriage. Members must now decide whether to remain in a group considered schismatic or to relinquish certain convictions to rejoin mainstream Catholic life.

Key Takeaway

Over 600,000 SSPX adherents are now considered excommunicated.
Papal instructions were ignored by the SSPX bishops, prompting the decree.
The Vatican invites former members to return, offering a path back to communion.