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SSPX rejects Vatican’s excommunication, calls it ‘objectively’ unjust and invalid

July 3, 2026 · 1 min read

The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), whose members are known as “Lefebvrians,” rejected the recent excommunications decreed by the Vatican after consecrating four bishops without papal authorization on July 1 and asserted that the sanctions imposed are “objectively unjust and invalid.”

In a letter addressed to Pope Leo XIV, released on July 3, Father Davide Pagliarani, superior general of the SSPX, justified the episcopal consecrations that prompted the Vatican’s decree declaring the group to be in schism as “an extreme measure to save souls, amid the doctrinal and moral confusion in which the Church finds itself.”

“We in no way intend to replace the Church, and our sole purpose is to remain faithful to her,” wrote Pagliarani, who leads the group founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who died in 1991.

The group founded by Lefebvre aims to preserve the traditional liturgy as it existed prior to the reforms implemented after the Second Vatican Council while maintaining its opposition to aspects of the council’s teachings on ecumenism, religious freedom, and collegiality.

Lefebvre was excommunicated in 1988 after ordaining, without the permission of Pope John Paul II,…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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Matthew Campbell

My choir here in Denver still fights to use the old translation for the troparion. They say it's what their grandparents knew. Makes me wonder if the SSPX's push is about that same longing.

Nicholas Lewis

Like our choir at St. John's Church here on Bloor Street, we still sing the 1977 hymnal's troparion for St. Nicholas because the seniors learned it from their own grandparents. Do you still use the old English translation for the "O Theotokos" chant?

Борис Илиев

They are returning to the old things again, as our people in Burgas insist on the old translation of the "Our Father". But without permission to ordain bishops, this is pure disobedience. I wonder how this Leo XIV story will end.

Theresa Wagner

In our church choir in Frankfurt we also sing the old German translations from time to time because some older ladies say that's what they learned as children. But ordaining bishops without permission is simply going too far for me - that's not an "extreme measure", that's clear disobedience. Let's see how Pope Leo XIV deals with this.

Isabel Romero

In Valencia we still use the old missal in some masses because our grandparents knew it when they were children, but ordaining bishops without the Pope's permission seems to me to cross the line. Lefebvre already tried it in '88 and ended up excommunicated; I don't see how this with Leo XIV is going to end better. Does anyone know if Pagliarani mentions anything specific about the doctrinal confusions that justifies so much?

James Phillips

Yeah, that makes sense — traditions stick when they come from the grandparents. At our parish we still use the old Slavonic "O Theotokos" chant from the blue 1960s pocket book because half the choir can't read the new one without stumbling. Do you guys ever mix the two versions during weekday services?

Xenia Phillips

Our choir at St. Mary’s here in Wichita switched back to the older troparion wording a few years ago after some of the older widows asked for it. It really is the same pull toward what you grew up hearing at home, though I worry the SSPX is mixing that honest longing with a harder break from the bishops. Do your singers ever talk about how the change actually feels in their prayer?

Michael Weber

In our choir here in Hamburg we reintroduced the old props a few years ago because a few older singers said exactly the same thing. But I still think the ordination of bishops without permission is a step too far, and I agree with you - that only creates new rifts. I'm also curious as to whether Leo XIV will approach this with leniency or with a clear line.

Margaret Anderson

Yeah, that old 1977 hymnal version sticks around for a reason — our choir director at St. John's still pulls it out on feast days because the older ladies know every note by heart from singing it with their own grandmas. We switched to the newer "O Theotokos" translation years ago, but a couple of us keep the old English folded in the back of our folders just in case. Do you find the seniors get annoyed when someone tries to update even one line?

Sabine Wagner

Yes, the old proprieties in the choir are really a benefit, we have slowly reintroduced them here in Frankfurt and the older women in the choir have really blossomed. But I'm with you about the unauthorized ordinations of bishops; that was simply too far and only made things harder. Whether or not Leo

Andreas Becker

Yes, the old props in the choir are really a treasure, we reintroduced them in Cologne last year and the singers really shine. However, I'm not entirely with you about the unauthorized ordinations of bishops - Lefebvre acted out of genuine concern at the time, even if it was hard. Whether Leo XIV shows clemency will actually be exciting, I also hope for unity.

Yes, the old props are really a treasure - in our choir in Frankfurt we have taken them up again and it just feels more right. I'm a little more reserved when it comes to episcopal ordinations: Lefebvre certainly meant well, but what's not allowed is still what's not allowed, right? Let's see if Leo XIV can find a way to unity without watering everything down.