On 1 July thousands of people gathered in Écône, Switzerland, to witness the ordination of four new bishops by the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), despite a direct appeal from Pope Leo XIV not to proceed. The Pope described the ordinations as a ‘schismatic act’ that could further divide the Roman Catholic Church. The SSPX, founded in 1970, rejects key modernising reforms introduced by the Vatican in the 1960s and 1970s, including permission to hold Mass in languages spoken by the congregation, rather than only in Latin, and other measures intended to make the Church more accessible. The society insists its actions are motivated by loyalty to Catholic tradition and respect for the papacy, but ordaining bishops without papal approval is regarded by the Vatican as a serious breach of Church unity. Observers expect the newly ordained bishops to face excommunications at once, although some believe the Vatican may seek to avoid deepening the division further given the society’s international presence and committed following.