Vatican excommunicates hundreds of thousands of splinter sect followers

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: Vatican excommunicates hundreds of thousands of splinter sect followersImage source, EPAImage caption, Worshippers at a Mass organised by the Society of Saint Pius X in Switzerland on WednesdayByCatherine WyattBBC religious affairsPublished27 minutes agoMore than half a million Christians who are part of a conservative Catholic splinter sect, the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), have been excommunicated by the Vatican. On Wednesday the sect, named after Pope Pius X known for his resistance to modernisation, consecrated four new bishops in Geneva against Pope Leo XIV's direct instruction. In response, the Society's total of six bishops were excommunicated - and, in a highly unusual move, the Vatican said all the group's lay members "are to be considered schismatic and excommunicated".

It added, however, that those who left the group and wished to return to the Roman Catholic Church would be welcomed back "with sincere affection". Controversial bishops ordained as Pope warns of 'schism' in Catholic Church Published1 day agoWho is Robert Prevost, the new Pope Leo XIV? Published9 May 2025The SSPX was founded in 1970 in opposition to the modernising reforms made by the Roman Catholic Church in the 1960s, at what was known as the Second Vatican Council.

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The Society is thought to number around 600 000 worshippers globally. In response to the Vatican's decree, Rita Reid, an SSPX worshipper from Jersey in the Channel Islands, said: "It actually makes me feel quite strong. "Before the consecrations yesterday I said to my husband, 'Do you know what?

Even if they excommunicate us, go ahead, bring it on, it's not going to make one bit of difference. '"The Society rejects changes made to how Mass is celebrated - for example it still holds its services in Latin rather than everyday language, and priests face the altar rather than the congregation. In SSPX Masses the communion bread has to be given straight into the mouths of kneeling worshippers by the priest, as opposed to churchgoers being able to stand and hold it themselves.

Women in the group also tend to cover their heads for services and followers of SSPX tend to be more socially conservative in general. The SSPX also opposes the modern Catholic Church's stance on more dialogue with other Christian denominations and other faiths. For Rita, 76, SSPX ceremonies are much more "profound", where she feels "the true presence of Jesus".

She says there is no comparison with the standard Catholic Mass, which she describes as "so weak and wishy-washy". The retired B&B owner used to attend modern Catholic services as well as SSPX ones, but complained that in the standard Mass traditional social values - like no sex before marriage - was no longer taught. "I think a lot of young people now that go to novus ordo think 'oh well, it's all right, we can do these things'.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.