The bishops of the Society of Saint Pius X, Alfonso de Galarreta and Bernard Fellay (respectively, principal consecrator and co-consecrator), and the newly consecrated bishops Pascal Schreiber, Michael Goldade, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry, and Marc Hanappier have incurred “ipso facto” the excommunication “latae sententiae” reserved to the Apostolic See for having committed “an act of a schismatic nature,” namely, “the episcopal consecration of four priests without pontifical mandate and against the will of the Supreme Pontiff.”  This is stated in the decree  signed by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, and countersigned by the two secretaries of said Dicastery. This is the unfortunately predictable conclusion that comes twenty-four hours after the solemn ceremony held in Écône, Switzerland, on the morning of July 1, 2026.

The decree of the former Holy Office states that, by performing the consecration, both the consecrators and the consecrated have incurred the prescribed excommunication. This is the painful epilogue, a consequence of the decision made by the Lefebvrists against the wishes repeatedly expressed by Leo XIV. The excommunication plunges into separation from the Church of Rome both the bishops and priests belonging to the Society of Saint Pius X. As for the lay faithful, those who formally adhere to the Society will be considered excommunicated. Further details are provided in an ” Explanatory Note ,” published by the Dicastery at the same time as the decree of excommunication, which we reproduce in full below.

The Dicastery’s note

From the time of Saint Paul VI until the most recent talks held in this Dicastery, the numerous attempts to bring the adherents of the movement initiated by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre back into full communion with the Catholic Church have been unsuccessful. This situation has been further aggravated by the recent episcopal consecrations celebrated without papal mandate, against the will of the Holy Father and in open violation of canon law. Therefore, this Dicastery, in the faithful exercise of the functions entrusted to it, considers it necessary to point out that this act constitutes the crime of schism, with the canonical consequences that this entails for the sacred ministers and the lay faithful involved. In fact, as was already declared in 1988, “such disobedience—which entails a practical rejection of the Roman Primacy—constitutes a schismatic act” (cf. John Paul II,  Apostolic Letter Ecclesia Dei , 3).

In this regard, from now on:

1. The consecrated ministers belonging to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X are in schism and, therefore, must be considered schismatics (see  Ecclesia Dei , 5 c; Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, Explanatory Note on the excommunication for schism incurred by adherents to the movement of Bishop Marcel Lefebvre, August 24, 1996, 5-6), and are therefore subject to the excommunication provided for by law (can. 1364 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law).

2. As regards the lay faithful, those who formally adhere to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X under the conditions established in the  Explanatory Note of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts of 1996  (see ibid., 7), still in force, which this Dicastery adopts, will be considered schismatics and excommunicated.

3. Finally, the holy People of God are warned that the consecrated ministers of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X administer the sacraments illicitly, and that the sacrament of penance they administer and the marriage they celebrate are invalid.

The Church, as a caring mother, will welcome with sincere affection and earnest solicitude all those who wish to return to full communion. The Apostolic Nuncios will establish the procedures that the Ordinaries may use in the various cases.

Finally, all the faithful are urged to remain steadfast in communion with the Roman Pontiff, with the bishops in communion with him and with the whole Church (cf.  Lumen Gentium , 22; can. 751 of the  Code of Canon Law ), and to refrain from participating in the celebrations and activities promoted by the aforementioned Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X.