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Vatican excommunicates bishops of breakaway traditionalist sect

Washington Post World Thursday 02 July 2026, 09:13 UTC By Anthony Faiola, Stefano Pitrelli 1 min read
Key Points

ROME — The Vatican on Thursday said it had excommunicated top clerics in an archconservative Catholic sect with thousands of adherents in the United States and Europe for ordaining renegade bishops in defiance of the Holy See, triggering the most serious schism in decades within the world’s largest Christian faith. Democracy Dies in Darkness Vatican excommunicates bishops of breakaway traditionalist sect The sect, the Society of St. Pius X, defied a direct plea from Pope Leo XIV and sought...

ROME — The Vatican on Thursday said it had excommunicated top clerics in an archconservative Catholic sect with thousands of adherents in the United States and Europe for ordaining renegade bishops in defiance of the Holy See, triggering the most serious schism in decades within the world’s largest Christian faith. Democracy Dies in Darkness Vatican excommunicates bishops of breakaway traditionalist sect The sect, the Society of St. Pius X, defied a direct plea from Pope Leo XIV and sought to consecrate four bishops without the Vatican's approval.
Vatican (LOCATION) ROME (LOCATION) Catholic (ORG) the United States (LOCATION) Europe (LOCATION) Christian (ORG) the Society of St. Pius X (ORG) Leo XIV (PERSON)
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