A traditionalist Catholic group directly defied Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday by consecrating four bishops without papal approval.
The five-hour ceremony took place in Econe, Switzerland, triggering automatic excommunications and a deepening rift with the Holy See.
The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) proceeded with the ordinations at its Swiss seminary despite a last-minute written appeal from the pope.
He warned that unauthorized consecrations constitute a "sin of extreme gravity" that harms the faithful.
The unsanctioned ceremony creates a major leadership challenge for Pope Leo XIV. He has focused his pontificate on maintaining church unity and resolving disputes with traditionalist factions.
The SSPX defended its actions during the Mass as a necessary step to protect the traditional Catholic faith.
They cited modernizing influences within the global church structure.
"We consider every punishment and censure brought to bear against this step will have no validity," stated an unnamed SSPX priest during a public reading at the beginning of the ceremony.
The ritual was led by Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta, who incurred automatic excommunication himself for being consecrated without a papal mandate in 1988.
He laid hands on the new bishops.
The newly ordained bishops were identified as Pascal Schreiber of Switzerland, Michael Goldade of the United States, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry of France, and Marc Hanappier of France.
"We are accused of not respecting the pope," said the Rev. Davide Pagliarani, the SSPX superior, during his homily.
He maintained the move was done out of devotion to the papacy rather than defiance.
"But it is precisely because we love the pope as the vicar of Christ, as the head of the church, that we don’t want to see the pope humiliated any more, on the side of false shepherds representing false religions," said Pagliarani.
An estimated 16,500 traditionalist followers attended the rain-slicked outdoor Mass. The event was livestreamed globally and featured commemorative merchandise.
"I don’t think it’s going to scare any of us. Me, I’m not scared," said Arlina Onglao, a 71-year-old travel agent from the Philippines.
"I feel like I’m on a safer road to heaven."
The Vatican did not issue an immediate statement regarding the event. The official implementation of the automatic excommunications remained unconfirmed on Wednesday night.
