The Vatican has recently taken action against a conservative faction within the Catholic Church, excommunicating its priesthood in what has become the most significant division in Roman Catholicism in recent decades. Despite this stern measure, many followers of the group have decided to remain loyal to their priests.
The Society of St. Pius X, a traditionalist group based in Écône, Switzerland, is at the center of this ecclesiastical rift. They held a procession on Wednesday, where they consecrated new bishops in opposition to Pope Leo XIV’s directives.
The excommunication aims to encourage the society’s followers to rejoin the mainstream church. Nevertheless, interviews conducted with supporters in Argentina, Italy, and Switzerland have revealed a persistent resistance to Vatican authority.
Blandine Guillaumin, a 42-year-old teacher at a school affiliated with the society in France, expressed that the Vatican’s actions did not alter her devotion to the group. Ms. Guillaumin remains steadfast in her belief that the society reflects genuine Catholicism, contrary to the Vatican’s decisions.
“It changes nothing,” Ms. Guillaumin stated, declaring her intent to stay with the Society of St. Pius X despite the threat of excommunication. She sees the society, rather than the Vatican, as the true representative of pure Catholic faith, firmly believing they are doing God’s will.
This enduring defiance highlights the culmination of over half a century of disagreement between the Vatican and the society. Established in 1970, the society was formed to counter the modernizing changes in the Catholic Church introduced by the Second Vatican Council, which occurred from 1962 to 1965.
The society criticizes the council’s modifications to Catholic services, which allowed priests to conduct mass in local languages. The group continues to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass, arguing that it retains the sacredness and mystery that they deem an essential aspect of Catholic worship.