The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, known as the SSPX, is a traditionalist Catholic society that has operated on the margins of the Roman Catholic Church for decades.
In July 2026, the Vatican formally declared the group to be in a state of schism. This decision has created a definitive rupture with profound consequences for the society’s clergy and its estimated half-million followers worldwide.
The declaration affects SSPX missions in numerous countries, including Mexico, where the group holds regular services in cities such as Mexico City, Guadalajara, Mérida, and Cancún.
Origins of the SSPX Traditionalist Society
The SSPX was founded in 1970 in Écône, Switzerland, by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. The French archbishop strongly opposed the reforms introduced by the Second Vatican Council, which took place from 1962 to 1965.
The Council modernized the Church by allowing Mass in local languages rather than Latin and by promoting ecumenical dialogue. Archbishop Lefebvre and his followers viewed these changes as a rupture with Catholic tradition and a threat to doctrinal purity.
The conflict escalated in 1988 when Lefebvre consecrated four bishops without the permission of Pope John Paul II. This act resulted in the automatic excommunication of Lefebvre and the new bishops. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI lifted these excommunications to encourage reconciliation.
Despite that gesture, the SSPX continued to exist in a state of canonical irregularity, remaining outside the Church’s formal structure while often being tolerated.
The Events of July 2026
The fragile relationship between the SSPX and the Vatican collapsed on July 1, 2026. On that day, the society conducted a consecration ceremony for four new bishops in Écône. The bishops were Pascal Schreiber, Michael Goldade, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry, and Marc Hanappier.
This act was carried out without the mandate of Pope Leo XIV, who had personally appealed to the society’s leadership to abandon the plan. The SSPX justified the consecrations as a sacred duty.
The Vatican responded immediately. On July 2, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a formal decree. The decree declared that the SSPX had committed a schismatic act. The society was now considered to be in formal schism, meaning a deliberate rupture with the authority of the pope and communion with the wider Catholic Church—the bishops who performed the consecrations and those who were consecrated incurred automatic excommunication.
What Schism Means for the Faithful
In a significant move, the Vatican decree extended penalties to lay followers. It declared that any Catholic who formally adheres to the SSPX is also to be considered schismatic and excommunicated.
The Dicastery clarified that this applies to those who habitually participate in SSPX celebrations and formally share its doctrinal positions. The sacraments administered by SSPX ministers, particularly marriage and penance, were declared invalid.
The Vatican urged all faithful to remain in communion with the pope and local bishops. Catholics were instructed to abstain from participating in SSPX activities. In canon law, schism is defined as the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff. Excommunication is one of the severest penalties, excluding a person from the life of the Church.
Global Reach and Presence in Mexico and Yucatán
The SSPX has a substantial global presence. It operates with approximately 733 priests, 250 religious sisters, 145 religious brothers, and 264 seminarians. The congregation comprises more than 1,500 consecrated members and claims about 500,000 faithful across more than 60 countries. The society’s main strongholds are in the United States and France.
In Mexico, the SSPX conducts missions in several locations. In Mérida, Yucatán, the society holds monthly religious celebrations. These typically occur on the weekend of the fourth Sunday of the month. The gatherings are held in private homes in the north or the center of the city.
They have also taken place in local hotels. So far this year, congregations have met in properties in the Nuevo Yucatán neighborhood and at the Hotel Nacional in the city center.
Priests from the SSPX usually visit Mérida for two to three days. Their stays generally run from Friday to Sunday or Sunday to Monday.
The society also has a presence in Cancún, where it meets in private venues. Upcoming activities are scheduled for August 1 and 2 at a house in the Rinconada de Gran Santa Fe subdivision and at a party hall.