Bishops were ordained in Valais on Wednesday despite a ban by the Vatican.Image: keystone
July 2, 2026, 10:18 amJuly 2, 2026, 10:35 am
After the unauthorized episcopal ordinations of the ultra-conservative Pius Brotherhood, the Vatican officially confirmed the excommunication of the six involved.
The responsible authority for doctrine in the Vatican announced the exclusion of the four newly ordained bishops of the traditionalist religious community and two other bishops from the church. This means that the clergy lose all their church offices and dignity.
Hundreds of people attended the event.Image: keystone
By consecrating them against the express will of Pope Leo XIV, they had carried out an “act of a schismatic nature,” according to the published Vatican decree. This refers to an act that aims to divide the Catholic Church. The powerful religious authority warned clergy and lay members of the community not to join the schism.
Swiss, American and two French people affected
Specifically affected by the banishment from the church are the Spanish Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta, who carried out the ordination, as well as the four new bishops Pascal Schreiber from Switzerland, Michael Goldade from the USA and Michel Poinsinet de Sivry and Marc Hanappier (both from France). Bishop Bernard Fellay (Switzerland) is also affected because of his involvement.
The Pius Brotherhood is considered to be extremely conservative.Image: keystone
The Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius The Vatican had already made it clear weeks earlier that such a step without the Pope’s consent would result in automatic expulsion from the church.
Escalation in years-long dispute
The latest development has escalated a conflict that has been simmering for decades. The community was founded in 1970 by French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and rejects key reforms of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). This council fundamentally changed relationships with other Christians, Jews and other religions as well as with the lay world and allowed mass to be held in national languages instead of Latin.
Already in 1988, Lefebvre had ordained four bishops against the wishes of Pope John Paul II. He and the newly ordained bishops were then excommunicated. Pope Benedict XVI but lifted the severe church punishment in 2009 as a sign of reconciliation. The German pope’s decision sparked criticism around the world because British Holocaust denier Richard Williamson was among the four bishops consecrated at the time. (leo/sda/dpa)