These traditionalist Catholics are defying Pope Leo XIV and embracing their outsider statusThe Canadian Press June 24, 2026
Excerpt:
''...which celebrates the traditional Latin Mass and rejects the modernizing reforms of the Catholic Church, is planning a highly organized, four-day, live-streamed extravaganza for the consecrations at its Swiss seminary — complete with a souvenir wine set offered to those attending....In announcing the names of the four new bishops last month, the SSPX insisted that it is not seeking to claim power or jurisdiction from Leo or “establish a parallel authority within the church.”
“The ceremony of July 1st will have no other purpose than to ensure the continued administration of the sacraments of Holy Orders and Confirmation, together with those sacramentals reserved to bishops, according to the traditional rite of the Holy Roman Church and the immemorial Faith,” the SSPX statement said.
The website for the event suggests months of preparation for thousands of people to attend: Registered participants can book accommodation at more than a dozen nearby hotels and family homes; they can request carpooling options from more than 100 locations; and prepay daily lunches via a festival-style wristband.
And
then there is the wine. Registered participants can “take home a memory of this historic event” by purchasing a limited edition set of four bottles of wine. Each bottle features a bishop-themed label: an image of a bishop's pointed miter hat, his ring, cross or crozier staff.
The 75 Swiss franc ($92.50) “Cuvee des Sacres” gift box —
Pinot noir, Syrah, Petit Arvine and Fendant — is available for pickup on site.
That level of organization suggests “they never had any idea of walking back" the plans, Faggioli said.
The pope seems OK to move on.
The consecrations pose a direct challenge to church unity...