Controversial bishops ordained as Pope warns of 'schism' in Catholic Church

Controversial bishops ordained as Pope warns of 'schism' in Catholic ChurchImage source, EPA/ShutterstockImage caption, Four priests from Switzerland, the US and France were ordained during a ceremony in the Alpine village of ÉcôneByImogen FoulkesGeneva correspondentPublished22 minutes agoThousands of people have gathered in a tiny village in Switzerland to witness the ordination of four new Catholic bishops, in defiance of an appeal by Pope Leo XIV.The four, one from the United States, one from Switzerland, and two from France, are members of the controversial Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), also sometimes known as Lefebrvistes after SSPX's founder Marcel Lefebvre.The Society rejects key modernising reforms introduced by the Vatican in the 1960s and 1970s, including permission to hold Mass in languages spoken by the congregation, rather than only in Latin.Pope Leo made a last minute appeal to SSPX leaders earlier this week not to proceed with the ordination, describing it as a "schismatic act", which could "tear the seamless garment of Christ".But on Wednesday morning, under cool grey Alpine skies, the society defied the Pope – regarded by millions of Catholics as God's representative on Earth – and proceeded with the ordination. At least 15,000 people gathered in Écône to watch hundreds of robed priests - carrying candles and crosses, and dispensing incense - progress through the village into a pasture where a large tent had been set up.Image source, EPA/ShutterstockImage caption, Thousands of worshippers attended the controversial ordination of the four priestsThere, the four candidates for bishop prostrated themselves before an altar, their heads buried in red velvet pillows. Ceremonial organ music played, the ordination vows were taken, of course, in Latin.But for these four men, their time as bishops may be very short. The last time the Society ordained new bishops, in 1988, they were immediately excommunicated. Although...