FSSPX Bishops Excommunicated - Clergy Declared Schismatic - Confessions Invalid
The decree also warns clergy and faithful not to adhere to the Fraternity's schism, stating that doing so incurs automatic excommunication.
An accompanying explanatory note says that all attempts since Pope Paul VI to reconcile the movement founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre with the Catholic Church have failed.
The recent episcopal consecrations against the will of Pope Leo XIV, it says, "constituted the offense of schism, with the resulting canonical consequences for the sacred ministers and lay faithful involved."
"The sacred ministers belonging to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X are in schism and must therefore be considered schismatics."
Lay faithful who formally adhere to the Fraternity are likewise to be considered schismatics and excommunicated.
The FSSPX clergy administer "the sacraments illicitly": "The sacrament of penance and the marriages they perform are invalid."
The note adds that the Church will welcome with affection those who wish to return to full communion, while Apostolic Nuncios will provide diocesan bishops with procedures for handling individual cases.
The faithful are also urged "to refrain from participating in the celebrations and activities promoted by the aforementioned Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X."
EXPLANATORY NOTE
From the time of Saint Paul VI up to the most recent discussions held at this Dicastery, the many attempts to bring the adherents of the movement begun by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre back into full communion with the Catholic Church have proved unsuccessful. This situation has been further aggravated by the recent episcopal consecrations carried out without a pontifical mandate, against the will of the Holy Father, and in open violation of canon law. Therefore, this Dicastery, in the faithful exercise of the responsibilities entrusted to it, considers it necessary to state that this act has constituted the canonical crime of schism, together with its canonical consequences for the sacred ministers and lay faithful involved. Indeed, as was already declared in 1988, "such disobedience—which carries with it a practical rejection of the Roman Primacy—constitutes a schismatic act" (cf. John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Ecclesia Dei, no. 3).
Accordingly, from this point forward:
Sacred ministers belonging to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X are in schism and must therefore be regarded as schismatics (cf. Ecclesia Dei, no. 5(c); Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, Explanatory Note on the Excommunication for Schism Incurred by Adherents of the Movement of Bishop Marcel Lefebvre, 24 August 1996, nos. 5–6). They are therefore subject to the excommunication prescribed by law (can. 1364 §1 CIC).
With regard to the lay faithful, those who formally adhere to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X under the conditions established in the 1996 Explanatory Note of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts (cf. ibid., no. 7), which remains in force and which this Dicastery hereby adopts as its own, are to be considered schismatics and excommunicated.
Finally, the holy People of God are warned that the sacred ministers of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X administer the sacraments illicitly, and that the sacrament of penance they administer and the marriages at which they assist are invalid.
The Church, as a loving mother, will receive with sincere affection and pastoral concern all those who desire to return to full communion. The Apostolic Nuncios will provide the procedures that Ordinaries may use in the various cases.
Finally, all the faithful are exhorted to remain steadfast in communion with the Roman Pontiff, with the bishops in communion with him, and with the whole Church (cf. Lumen Gentium, no. 22; can. 751 CIC), and to refrain from participating in the celebrations and activities promoted by the aforementioned Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X.
From the Palace of the Dicastery, 2 July 2026
Víctor M. Cardinal Fernández
Prefect
Msgr. Armando Matteo
Secretary for the Doctrinal Section
John J. Kennedy
Titular Archbishop of Ossero
Secretary for the Disciplinary Section
DECREE
Despite the warnings addressed to the Superior General of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta, having committed an act of a schismatic nature by conferring episcopal consecration upon four priests without a pontifical mandate and against the will of the Supreme Pontiff, has incurred ipso facto the penalties provided for in can. 1387 and can. 1364 §1 of the 2021 Code of Canon Law (CIC).
Accordingly, I declare, with all juridical effect, that both the aforementioned Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta and Pascal Schreiber, Michael Goldade, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry, and Marc Hanappier have ipso facto incurred the penalty of latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See.
I further declare that Bishop Bernard Fellay, having directly participated in the liturgical celebration as a co-consecrating bishop and thereby publicly adhered to the schismatic act, has incurred the latae sententiae excommunication provided for in can. 1364 §1 of the 2021 Code of Canon Law.
Clergy and lay faithful are warned not to adhere to the schism of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, lest they ipso facto incur the penalty of latae sententiae excommunication.
From the Palace of the Dicastery, 2 July 2026
Víctor M. Cardinal Fernández
Prefect
John J. Kennedy
Titular Archbishop of Ossero
Secretary for the Disciplinary Section
Msgr. Armando Matteo
Secretary for the Doctrinal Section
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