# These traditionalist Catholics are defying Pope Leo XIV, and embracing their outsider status

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-06-24 19:07 UTC · Category: World

## Executive Summary
Traditionalist SSPX defies Pope Leo XIV, risking schism and imminent excommunication.

## Intelligence Brief
Traditionalist Catholics linked to the Society of Saint Pius X are publicly defying Pope Leo XIV. The group issued a declaration of faith to the Pope and cardinals ahead of an upcoming consistory, while continuing ordinations that the Vatican views as unauthorized. Coverage highlights the tension.


The Catholic Thing reports a papal warning that SSPX bishop ordinations could deepen the schism. The National Catholic Register outlines the divide between Rome and the SSPX. Newsweek notes the group is days away from excommunication.


EWTN News details the declaration of faith, and AP News describes the group’s embrace of an outsider status. The next steps include the consistory, during which the Vatican may act on the ordinations and the declaration. Observers will watch for any formal excommunication and further statements from the Pope regarding the schism risk.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Il Messaggero | On the Brink: The SSPX and the Vatican's Deepening Divide | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiogFBVV95cUxNekhGWnZFcGktUjFzVDJSU21pRk93NGtYU0ZkX2J3SlBsbE5wV2lSOUlDTmJVY0g1aXRKa2dfbEg5ZmUyanpqeVdqV1RjRHBvb0IxYkNVOFNNY0txMDRJRnJmam9UYkM4azMzQ1VBVGtRRW9xOUsta0liMGF0LUZWTWhpNzZaeERodlFvSHR5UVppWXpaRUFuOHpXVnBlc3loR0E?oc=5) |
| The Catholic Herald | Read the full text of the SSPX’s Declaration of Catholic Faith to Pope Leo XIV | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitAFBVV95cUxOTEs2N1JnXzNUUk5NSFNFRHRXa280dzNHTnBOTWozWkZLVmpBZG1rQUNlaTFlTXFCcTBzX0IwQXROdUlHUlp4RzVTWF9LWjJVNU8wZTBvbGV3NHM4ZF9qNWdNTTkwN0JjaGdGS25iQ2pCc0tWUjJYT3BYTW9wTVhxUy1rMjB0WGdNZkFaTjhYOTFtTVEzTFBuTXBYVDZoNnJwVkpKV3lLQ1hBYWlLWDZCanpKaWM?oc=5) |
| The Guardian | Crisis looms for Pope Leo as splinter sect seeks to ordain far-right bishops | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMifEFVX3lxTE51ek1LNGJNQ250QzJwMGlOUHNfc21mLXFTZkJ4SWNlYWVfMXlMQjZOdVNyT3Q3QWdzdW1xektSR2hlUHhFdElNWFc1b0xVeTFDcUl6OFNpUGQtQnQwbnVVcUxGYmgzVzVLWDU0Y01ubldyekY5MFE3ZEZvb2w?oc=5) |
| National Catholic Reporter | These traditionalist Catholics are defying Pope Leo XIV, and embracing their outsider status | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwwFBVV95cUxPZmVUN2h1LWdFalRHbkJNaXRWekRaVFF6OFZHTEFYQWZUTnN5UjFYTkxNZlBsRTE0NjdzS0M0UnFoUWx6UHMxLVdvQTNGSGlGSDRGVE9IQVRHc3RlU0syUHFHQ2lmR2NtQ3NzNG5oMEhIQ1JqQ2ViaGFtZkx0YWV3V005aWJPRUJvb3MzUXNRMk5qUzlWTENXN0c4U0RoVVg2dm9xTzlMNU1lcmdSOXlVUFVPWHZHa0Q1enNGUktSWWtmazQ?oc=5) |
| Newsweek | Rebel Catholic Priest Facing Excommunication Compares Group To Joan of Arc | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirAFBVV95cUxQTURLZWk1clVoSFVxbWhsQmZrcUF1YkhXSkxyTF92VGdaZzVwWU5YUkFMWGNPbzZCRlpSRW5tbVBkWU5oc1ZjMmVZbGpwRFJQWktpOGJxN2NMZHhDZmFLVXhkdi1aTk56akNfT3dzdGJuaHcwMXJYVU5VVmJ2UmtrcXNYcGJkRk82WEFwck5XaFhtTnFmbjZaRlhRQWphcjh3QU5tTVB4R1UtT3U2?oc=5) |
| National Catholic Reporter | SSPX doubles down on defiance of Vatican II in open letter | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihwFBVV95cUxPMjVGcDRJUFpkY0ZHTTFxcm5wcUNsT29RaEJyNnNUbmJ5bFg0a2M4UTQ3WEhMamdkNzlBOEJwMzlpR3hiaHJsa3kyUGUySldpaTNaeEVadkRnWThLVVE0cmxmTU9lTlZ0NVJEUjVhSUVxdXRjOG5rVlBlLXEtd19CaV9HRHlxLXM?oc=5) |
| The Catholic Herald | SSPX issues declaration of faith ahead of Vatican consistory | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinwFBVV95cUxNcF9sSWk0TzVnNS1RQW04eHVmdUV4SjJlZTBqMXF5QlVyZjM2M3hRQXZTMFlHRk1hMmlrREF6aWFMVGZlQ29vSzJLa3RpNmdOZVh2b2dCbU1aY1lGdUVFdm54NGE2RE1IZkVxVk9nZ3llVHVPSFJLc0lIV0I1X2doS1pncWZGWlJMd3E4a3FKeC1RdkhfR3lvMnRxclB2cEU?oc=5) |
| The Catholic Thing | Pope warns SSPX bishop ordinations risk deepening schism | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiowFBVV95cUxNLXpHdERQd19RRndTMWduZE14S2dHdVBGNFpoaEg1UWczU0JrZE9NZ0NEUWFibGVZUDZNYnZhcnNUMkZBQ0ktZ3JST2V0V2R1ajJfRXlfMW5udmFvUk5vZXYwMXgzekVzc3dmdVJaT0tOYl9mekNucVotbXJ0cGxGVnlaYnVMa19mTkZjU3N5Mi1zZTlOcW9rSGhzZnEyV0JSSEZv?oc=5) |
| National Catholic Register | This Is the Real Divide Between Rome and the SSPX | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiakFVX3lxTE9Ma3F3X2UyNVVjdVVmMWtueVBvOHlpVnJhMlFId1FmZkNrSGdUc2lLQ0hUd29TYXExMm5EZzhQYjN0ZWYtVEszZHFDTDhQaXRSQVRDTUdsSGNpMWxkVll3YW54MHh6TVBMcVHSAW9BVV95cUxPOFZlX1ROX0Q1SG52MTF0a1dfQTlKbmFRVXYwWDBJeXVBb0x3MVRleDFrRW9TUEk3ZWtSZFZiTERUeWpIakVhU09IQW1oQW1iVUhla0VCNGxPQlktUzdFUi1YRGFXUTJSUTZ5Z3R2RVk?oc=5) |
| Newsweek | Catholic Rebel Group Days Away From Excommunication | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijgFBVV95cUxOMjZ5SFU2dTNicjRqamo5SWxRRFMybzlyay1IVW8wN3ZyeV9vcWpud2hZeDFuc3B0ZU16MVRYaVBmTzhHSmZ0dHhsUnZFczc0OTBRQ2dENlVzV29LU3hyb3h2SzBQYXFBTWJ3LVk1eXpUOS1QNXhhYktIN0hVMExwZXVDelJjbDhwU1dRaWpR?oc=5) |
| EWTN News | SSPX issues declaration of faith to Pope Leo XIV and cardinals ahead of consistory | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimgFBVV95cUxPLU0yTExCSzYtVk9RNl8zcWRPcGd1NVpoSm5lX01sTFo1dlVaNC1GNnFyZUstcktRaDl6T0Q5ekNidXRIUkZSM0JvRDVQMlZsU0xJVmdZR1dJelV6SklhNy1iVWctbmlxdkFIbnJmelJraEJEb2ZScnI4aWlTTDNwSjhvSjNvb3k4V1FzbU9pRjBseXlvRlVUbjVR?oc=5) |
| AP News | These traditionalist Catholics are defying Pope Leo XIV, and embracing their outsider status | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilwFBVV95cUxPUmxBaUpzYVpUYXRIT00zYTk5d0VXSG5qTGwtdk0zOHJ5MDRoVXBNZnNIRUJrcnk4dk5hckhOSHRUWG9SSWZlblFDU1VHd2dfUk93T1lqWGk0eHRLOG5qMzRvNFFZSXZuZzlzQ19hVG42TEdXbDV0aXVoQzJHWnlfVlV5N1diOE1QbjdZS1NJVUtLUHpQYWw0?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-06-24/these-traditionalist-catholics-are-defying-pope-leo-xiv-and-embracing-their*