Society of St. Pius X Predicts Return After 4 Bishops Trigger Excommunication
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Jul 5
Society of St. Pius X Predicts Return After 4 Bishops Trigger Excommunication
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Jul 5
Summary
Georg Kopf told worshippers in Wil on Sunday that the Society of St. Pius X expects a future pope to welcome it back into the Catholic Church after this week’s split.
Wednesday’s excommunication followed the ordination of four bishops without Pope Leo’s approval, a step the Vatican said automatically triggered the penalty despite prior offers of dialogue.
Kopf said the group did not intend to create a parallel church or break with Rome, arguing the ordinations were carried out to protect souls and because Leo had not heard its concerns.
The Switzerland-based traditionalist movement has broken with Rome before: founder Marcel Lefebvre’s 1980s consecration of four bishops led to excommunications that Pope Benedict XVI lifted in 2009.