The Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) has officially announced that four of its priests will be consecrated as bishops on July 1st. This significant announcement was made in a statement released today at 2:32 PM Rome time. The four priests selected for this important ecclesiastical role are Father Pascal Schreiber, who hails from Switzerland, and Father Michael Goldade, an American national. The statement did not provide further details regarding the specific location within Rome for the consecration ceremony or the identity of the consecrating bishop(s), which is a crucial aspect of such events within the Catholic Church hierarchy.
The Society of Saint Pius X, founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, operates independently of the mainstream Roman Catholic Church hierarchy, though it maintains a complex and often contentious relationship with the Vatican. The consecration of bishops is a particularly sensitive issue, as bishops are seen as successors to the Apostles and hold authority within the Church. Historically, the SSPX has faced canonical penalties from the Vatican, notably excommunications, though these have been lifted by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009 for the four bishops consecrated in 1988. However, the question of regularizing the status of the SSPX within the Church structure remains unresolved, with disagreements persisting on theological and canonical matters.
The decision to consecrate new bishops suggests a continued commitment by the SSPX to its independent existence and its mission to preserve what it considers traditional Catholic practice and doctrine. The number of consecrated bishops can be significant for the operational capacity and future leadership of such an organization. The date, July 1st, places the event in the summer months, a common time for significant religious ordinations.
Further details about the ceremony, including the specific location and the consecrating prelate, are expected to be released by the SSPX in due course. The consecration of bishops is a solemn rite and a cornerstone of the apostolic succession in Catholic ecclesiology. For the SSPX, it represents a continuation of their efforts to maintain and propagate their distinct ecclesial community. The international representation among the chosen priests, with a Swiss and an American national, indicates the global reach and diversity of the Society’s clergy. The news is likely to be met with considerable interest from both supporters and observers of the traditional Catholic movement, as well as from those within the broader Catholic Church interested in the ongoing dialogue and relationship between the Vatican and the SSPX. The move underscores the SSPX’s self-governance and its capacity to perpetuate its hierarchy, even in the absence of full canonical recognition from the Holy See. The consecration will undoubtedly reinforce the SSPX’s position and influence within traditionalist Catholic circles worldwide. Source: Diane Montagna
Diane Montagna: JUST IN: SSPX Announces Four Priests to Be Consecrated as Bishops on July 1: In a statement released today at 2:32pm (Rome), the SSPX said the four priests are: Father Pascal Schreiber, of Swiss nationality; Father Michael Goldade, of American. #breaking
— @dianemontagna May 1, 2026
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