- The Vatican declared the Society of St. Pius X in schism and excommunicated its bishops and priests after the society consecrated four bishops without papal consent.
- The Vatican's decree invalidated sacraments administered by SSPX priests and warned faithful attending their Masses that they too face excommunication.
- The SSPX, founded in 1970, opposes modernizing reforms like those from Vatican II and celebrates the traditional Latin Mass, accusing the church of heresy.
- Pope Benedict XVI lifted previous excommunications in 2009, but the new sanctions reversed recent concessions, citing the group's schismatic act and threat to church unity.
- The SSPX has grown to include six bishops, over 750 priests, and hundreds of members worldwide, justifying the consecrations as necessary to uphold the true faith.